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Date: 6/13/2023
EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton City Council approved all 10 line items of the city’s $52.3 million fiscal year 2024 budget at its June 6 meeting. The overall budget includes an increase of $3.76 million, or 7.5%, from fiscal year 2023. It takes effect on July 1.
The biggest part of the budget, that of the schools, also brought about the most discussion. At $18.8 million, the schools represent roughly 36% of the total budget. The crux of the discussion focused on the City Council’s desire to ensure that the English Language Learner program is well funded. The council expressed concerns about potential cuts to the program due to students placing out of it, essentially being deemed proficient in their English language skills.
School Committee member Megan Harvey appeared remotely to assure the council that the School Committee is “committed to level services” and will be hosting a public hearing about the program at its July 30 meeting.
However, several councilors voiced concerns that even level services may not be sufficient for those students.
“We give them just enough and that is our great failure,” said Councilor Koni Denham, who has taught English as a second language. Denham added that just enough isn’t really enough in this case.
Councilor Brad Riley echoed Denham’s concerns, citing his own experiences growing up learning English.
“I had to fight like hell…to sit at a space like this,” explained Riley. He encouraged the School Committee to “provide a foundation for all of our students that is the same.”
Finance Committee Chair Daniel Rist noted that the subcommittee demanded that there be a negotiation about this program and that he believes that the School Committee will put forth a “good-faith effort” to make sure that English language learners have all the support they need.
Ultimately, the City Council did approve the budget for the schools.
“I feel confident that the school department is going to do what is right for the EL program,” said Homar Gomez, City Council president.
Much of the FY24 budget’s increases came from negotiated increases in salaries for various unions and city employees, as well as fuel costs for all the city’s vehicles. In addition, the cost of health insurance has increased roughly 9% over the last year.
Rist also noted that the enterprise line item of the budget will allow for many improvements and replacements that must be made to the very old infrastructure at places like the wastewater treatment plant.
As part of the budget approval, the council also put in place a $20,000 cap on the revolving fund for electric vehicle charging stations and bike share program.
Overall, the council expressed its support of the budget as a whole.
“The financial picture of our city is excellent,” said Rist.
At the end of its meeting, the council also voted to add its support to a resolution currently in the State House that would end the MCAS graduation requirement and prevent the state from taking over districts that are deemed underperforming.
“The standards are woefully misguided,” said Councilor Owen Zaret, who noted that education should not be about teaching to a test.