Letter: Vote No On Oct. 8

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To the Editor:

My issue is that the numbers just don't add up. [Grades] preK to 2 numbers are trending down. MCAS scores are down. The amount of surplus property the city owns is growing.

Disingenuous people sending their children to private schools while claiming the need for a new school. Additional burden to taxpayers for the need of a new public safety complex.

Sitting city councilor profiting from his documented pro new school position. The omission of up-to-date enrollment numbers.

City employee running a private business in a public building that NAPS oversees. A member of the School Committee that has voted for increases to his employer's bus contract. (Editor's note: the member recused themself. )

These numbers just don't add up for me.


What does add up is the average of $270 a year increase to my tax bill. 

Multiply that by four for me, $1,100 a year, on average ... and it's not going to go down.

Those numbers add up to me.

When McCann Tech comes calling for an increase in the upcoming years that will add on as well.

Maybe I'm out of my mind but I'm not willing to subsidize a 30-year mortgage for a declining enrollment.

Chris Tremblay
North Adams, Mass. 

 

 

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North Adams Council OKs Union Wage Hikes

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council passed an updated fiscal 2025 classification and compensation plan with no debate at a special meeting on Monday. 
 
The updated plan covers recent agreements with the firefighters, police and Department of public Works' unions and is retroactive to July 1. 
 
The firefighters and police are getting about a 3 percent raise. 
 
An entry-level firefighter will have a minimum starting wage of $46,574, up from $45,218, and Step 1 will start at $48,085.
 
A patrol officer at Step 1 will get $47,272, up from $45,031. Second shift will get an 8 percent differential ($48,633 at Step 1) and third a 9 percent differential ($49,083 at Step 1).
 
DPW workers will see a $2 an hour raise across the board, or about 12 percent. An entry level laborer will start at $17.30 an hour, up from $15.30.
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey had proposed a 2 percent cost-of-living raise for nonunion employees back in May. 
 
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