Holyoke Police Budget Would Cut Three Authorized Patrol Positions Before June 24 Vote

HOLYOKE — June 10, 2026 — Holyoke City Council scrutinized a proposed police staffing cut and a $544,000 pension assessment increase at its third budget hearing Wednesday. The council reviewed a proposed police budget of $14,741,161 — roughly $41,000 below the current year — that would reduce authorized patrol positions from 92 to 89, a move Police Chief said directly contradicts a city-commissioned audit recommending an increase to 95; overtime funding would drop from $350,000 to $115,000. Mayor Joshua Garcia acknowledged the cuts approach the levy limit, noting the full police request as submitted would add nearly 1 percent to the city budget. On pensions, the city's FY27 retirement assessment is proposed at approximately $13.6 million, a 4.14 percent increase over the current year, with the fund on track for full funding by 2032 and currently valued at $430 million after a roughly 12 percent return in 2025; Garcia noted the council could level-fund and save approximately $544,000 this year but cautioned the deferred cost would have to be repaid with interest. Lori Belanger, speaking for the Holyoke Taxpayer Association, urged the council to "reject unnecessary spending increases" and called the body "the taxpayer's last line of defense." The full budget vote is scheduled for June 24.