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Date: 12/18/2023
HADLEY — Town voters came out divided on two issues during the Dec.12 Special Election, approving a tax exemption for Proposition 21/2 financing for $1.07 million for locker room renovations at Hopkins Academy but not for the more than $2 million purchase price of a new fire department ladder truck.
Proposition 2½ allows a community to raise funds for certain purposes above the amount of its levy limit or levy ceiling. A community can assess taxes in excess of its levy limit or levy ceiling for the payment of certain capital projects and for the payment of specified debt service costs.
Both items were articles approved by vote during an Oct. 26 Special Town Meeting. Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel offered a presentation at that time outlining the need for a new, larger ladder truck for the department’s fleet and the need for committing to a purchase sooner rather than later.
The locker rooms at Hopkins Academy, which date back to the 1960s, have long been the subject of town discussion and community concern.
A total of 624 community members participated in the vote. The renovation for the locker rooms was approved with a 375-248 vote with one blank while the ladder truck question failed with a 302-322 margin.
Hadley Public Schools Superintendent Anne McKenzie was traveling and unable to provide response and fire officials had not responded to a request for comment by press time.