The Northampton Education Action Team has published a preliminary school closure assessment report on their website, neatonline.net. You can read the full report by clicking here (PDF). The report examines perceived errors in the enrollment and class size premises as put forth by the superintendent of schools, and argues against closing a school at this time. Superintendent Dr. Isabelina Rodriguez-Babcock has since rescinded the proposal to close a school for the 2009 fiscal year.
Though local, state, and national economic problems have been manifesting themselves for years, and the city of Northampton has increased its reliance on the use of its free cash or stabilization funds to balance its budget, it seems people have begun to more robustly brainstorm over fiscal policies in the city. During this time of national military conflict, commonly known as war, some are looking for ways to cuts costs, some are promoting a Proposition 2 1/2 override, and some are lobbying the state for more funding.
In my travels I’ve been asking around seeking ideas for saving the city money or at least for making the budget process more transparent. Below is a listing of suggestions as put forth by residents not involved with city government formally. Imagine what those, "in the know," could come up with. Though it’s far from complete I’m sure, and each idea would need to be analyzed for its feasibility, there does seem to be some potential for savings. I don’t necessarily support all of these ideas, but everything should be considered that could be considered.
- Eliminate health insurance eligibility for part time elected officials, this would include members of the city council, school comittee, and Smith Vocational and Agricultural School’s board of trustees.
- Ask elected officials who can afford it to forgo their stipends.
- Sell the James House on Gothic Street for private development. This would provide a one time cash infusion, increases property taxes, and reduce taxpayer funded utility fees.
- Sell the Academy of Music for private development because officials have stated that the Academy will never make the city money. This would provide a one time cash infusion, increase property taxes, reduce taxpayer funded utility fees, and free up DPW personnel for other duties.
- Sell all nonessential surplus city real estate and cease all nonessential land acquisition that takes property off of the tax rolls.
- Sell all nonessential surplus city equipment. Perhaps this truck parked at the landfill could bring the city a few dollars. :^)
- Eliminate or reduce the hours of all nonessential personnel through attrition or voluntary furloughs.
- Reduce and closely monitor all nonessential overtime.
- Eliminate or reduce all nonessential discretionary spending on supplies, etc.
- Cancel all nonessential travel/conferences by city officials as funded by taxpayers.
- Cancel all nonessential professional association memberships, magazine subscriptions, etc. of city officials as funded by taxpayers.
- Cancel any personal use by municipal employees of city vehicles or property, if there is any.
- Explore new regional municipal partnerships to deliver city services, like sharing personnel and equipment with neighboring communities.
- Set fees to match costs of providing city services, charge fees for departmental consulting services that go beyond mere questions and answers.
- Examine all permissible uses of city funds held in trust.
- Examine uses of Community Preservation Act or Community Development Block Grant funds et al., that would relieve pressure on the city budget. The city has designated $1.6 million for culture and recreation, for instance, and CPA funds can be used for recreational purposes. CDBG funds can be used to supplement educational services to a point.
- For transparency, require the city to provide comprehensive listing of all city personnel by position (not by name), job responsibilities, and funding sources.
- Require comprehensive breakdown of city budget. For instance, how is the $1.6 million allocated for culture and recreation expended?
- Eliminate the practice of contracting for legal services and hire a full time city solicitor. A salaried staff person would be more affordable than paying a legal contractor by the hour. Currently the legal services budget has exceeded its roughly $100 thousand budget by about $280 thousand, and the fiscal year is not over.
- Enact a hiring freeze, do not hire new city personnel if nonessential.
- Negotiate with all of Northampton’s nonprofit organizations for payments to the city for services provided. Even nominal payments from dozens of tax exempt organizations could add up to funding for a teacher.
- Adjust thermostat/electrical use in all city buildings-turn off computers/monitors and copiers, etc. when not in use.
- Install low-flow water saving devices in all municipal buildings and turn down the temperature of the hot water.
- Install low energy light bulbs in all municipal buildings and encourage people to turn off lights, etc. when not in use.
- To ensure social equity, double-check the accuracy of property tax assessments before entertaining the notion of tax overrides.
- Increase fees for permits and licenses.
