Council hears flat water rate plan, OKs bond reprogramming

Select Board · Meeting of March 19, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton City Council held hearings on a $132.4 million five-year capital plan and on a proposal to hold water and sewer rates flat for fiscal year 2027. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra's administration recommended $29,984,505 in fiscal 2027 capital spending, covering a 175-year-old City Hall, the 37-year-old E.J. Gare parking garage, and school HVAC electrification. DPW Director Donna LaScala said Coca-Cola's delayed exit has generated about $3.4 million in "unanticipated revenue" since 2024, letting the city avoid rate hikes, but she warned "this stability is really unprecedented" and will not continue once the company leaves.

The council voted 5-3 to suspend its rules, then 7-1, with Councilor Stratton opposed, to reprogram $914,035 in unspent bond proceeds toward a DPW storage building at Locust Street. A resolution adopting the capital plan and an information request on the Picture Main Street project were both pushed to the March 31 meeting.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Northampton's community access TV: City Council meeting, March 19, 2026
• The complete report: 940 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.