Holyoke City Council Grills Finance and DPW Chiefs at Second Budget Hearing

Select Board · Meeting of June 1, 2026

Holyoke City Council questioned department heads on staffing gaps, reorganization savings, and rising public works costs at its second fiscal year 27 budget hearing Monday. Budget consultant TJ Plant and the mayor acknowledged that a previously announced $100,000 in savings from the finance division consolidation will not appear in the current budget cycle, telling councilors the reduction in contracted services will begin only once newly hired staff, including a city auditor who started her first day Monday, are fully onboarded. DPW Director Mike Gallagher faced extended questioning from Councilor Rivera over a proposed $76,000 parks maintenance superintendent position, with Rivera arguing the role had effectively been funded for years through overlapping overtime and forestry budget lines: "The money's not adding up to me." Human Resources Director Kelly Curran, joining by video conference, said a recently settled union contract makes the tree climber salary competitive for the first time in years.

The mayor confirmed three bids have been received to outsource management of the city's downtown parking facilities and enforcement operations.

In the full story:

• Opening Remarks and Meeting Context
• Tax Collector Budget
• Assessor Budget
• Purchasing Budget
• Treasurer Budget
• Auditor Budget
• The complete report, 2,871 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.