Council Approves $152.5 Million City Budget

Select Board · Meeting of June 4, 2026

Northampton City Council approved a $152.5 million city budget and debated a new sidewalk-enforcement tool. The council voted 7-2 to pass the $136,225,218 general fund budget, with Councilors Robbins and Stratton opposed, and unanimously approved $16,307,311 in enterprise fund budgets. Mayor Sierra said the city pulled $1.9 million from its Fiscal Stabilization Reserve this year and warned an override vote is likely ahead of fiscal 2028.

Councilor Stratton argued the city could redirect unspent Picture Main Street funds, noting its local cost estimate has grown from $3.6 million to $11.8 million. The council also appointed Patricia Healy to the Northampton Housing Authority, 8-0 with one abstention, and discussed, without voting, a plan to accept state law allowing a hearing officer to fine residents over unshoveled sidewalks, which Mayor Sierra said "is exactly what we do with parking tickets."

In the full story:

• Burt's Pit Road Utility Pole Petitions
• Public Comment: L3Harris, CPA Advocacy and Transparency Concerns
• Announcements
• Housing Authority Appointment: Patricia Healy
• Committee Appointments Referral
• Community Preservation Act Funding Recommendations
• Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
• Personnel Services Contract Exemption
• MGL Chapter 40U: Municipal Hearing Officer for Snow and Vegetation Enforcement
• Parking Ordinances: Parsons Street and Vernon Street
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,705 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.