Holyoke City Council approves changes to allow more senior citizens to qualify for property tax break
By Michael Plaisance
October 20, 2009, 9:39PM
HOLYOKE – The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved changes that will let more senior citizens qualify for a property tax exemption, such as lowering the eligibility age to 67 from 70.
The 15-0 vote at City Hall included an increase of the per-person exemption to $750 from the current $550, with the changes to take effect on July 1. Other changes included in the council vote affected income levels and asset totals to help more senior citizens qualify for the tax break.
The goal is the changes will alert more senior citizens that the exemption is available because while the state allows the city 259 such exemptions, currently only 79 senior citizens are receiving it, Councilor at Large Kevin A. Jourdain said.
Re-Elect Holyoke's Fiscal Watchdog!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Councilor Jourdain's Candidate Profile from The Republican Newspaper
Holyoke City Council candidate: Kevin A. Jourdain
By The Republican Newsroom
October 26, 2009, 5:13PM
Elective office sought: Holyoke City Councilor-at-Large
Age: 37
Web site: holyokefirst.blogspot.com
Occupation and employer: Senior financial analyst, Sisters of Providence Health System
Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science and economics, UMass-Amherst, 1993; master’s degree, business administration Anna Maria College, 1999; juris doctor candidate, Massachusetts School of Law, 2010
Elective offices held: City Councilor-at Large, 1993-Present
Memberships: Knights of Columbus Council 90 and 4th Degree; Holy Cross Parish; Friends of the Holyoke Council on Aging and Senior Center
List any relatives now employed by state, federal or local government: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you running for office?
Because Holyoke voters need a fiscal watchdog in their city government who will make sure that our government is transparent and accountable to the voters while also making sure our budget is balanced with correct priorities without raising taxes. As the senior most member of the Finance Committee, I hold an MBA and work as a senior financial analyst in private sector, I understand how municipal finance works. As a lifelong Holyoker, husband and father with a family, I owe my beloved city, my time and energy to make sure it reaches its greatest potential for the benefit of our next generation.
What are your qualifications for the post?
City Councilor At Large 16 years, senior member of the Finance Committee, Chairman of Cable TV Committee,Vice Chairman of Public Service Committee, former trustee of Holyoke Community College, former supervisor on Board of Supervisors of T.J. O’Connor Animal Control Center
What are the key issues facing your community?
Economic development; private sector job creation; keeping a balanced city budget; preventing tax and sewer rate increases, and ensuring top quality city services such as police and fire protection. I also strongly support building a new senior center in Holyoke and I am leading the effort on the City Council to make it a reality. I have also been a leader for millions of dollars worth of new infrastructure improvements in our city; including, scores of new roads and sidewalks and I will continue to lead this effort.
Explain why you will or will not vote for the question on the ballot asking whether a charter commission should be established to study if changes should be made in city’s form of government.
I have no objection with having a charter commission provided it is not composed of individuals with a preset agenda. Certain valid things could stand fixing although there are other ways to do it without spending a lot of time and money on a charter commission. In the last 100 years, the Charter has been amended by the mayor and City Council dozens of times to accommodate the changing needs of the city. There has never been one change from a charter commission even when the city did one in 1973. A Charter Commission could be very good and could address a number of issues potentially. However, my chief concern is I oppose the current mayor’s foolish idea to create a charter commission to eliminate the office of mayor on his way out the door and return Holyoke to effectively a town form of government with an unelected city manager. This is absolutely ridiculous and makes one wonder why it took him 10 years to come to the conclusion his job was not needed. I strongly support a leadership of the city that is elected and directly accountable to the people of Holyoke and not to bring in some hired gun to tell us all what to do. Every mayor prior to the current one believed in our strong mayoral form of government. Voters should beware and ask lots of tough questions.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s top fiscal adviser is warning of a “perfect storm” of budget problems, raising the possibility of another round of emergency cuts to cities and towns. Should schools or police be immune from potential cuts or should all departments share the burden?
Holyoke must not lay off any teachers, police or fire personnel period. Our kids’ education and the community’s public safety are fundamental obligations that must never be compromised. I am proud to say that under my leadership on City Council, I have supported the creation of a $10 million stabilization fund plus a healthy free cash reserve of $5.8 million to weather these painful cuts without raising your taxes. Holyoke will be OK because we have been prepared. Holyoke’s budget has some areas of bloat that could be trimmed in order to give back some funds in order to avoid layoffs to core personnel. As your fiscal watchdog, I voted against this last budget because it was not lean enough. I have the fin’ancial skills and experience necessary to make sure our budget remains balanced no matter what the state throws at us. I will also be a voice to tell Boston: no more unfunded mandates.
“Revitalizing downtown” and “bringing in new business to boost the economy” are cliches heard around election time. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen, and please be specific. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen and please be specific.
I agree talk is cheap. Voters must look at all the candidates’ records. I have a strong track record of being supportive of economic development in the city. I have supported the development of the city’s infrastructure and dam acquisition so that we could take advantage of large new projects coming to Holyoke such as the new $100 million data center to the downtown. I have been a good ambassador for the city and it was one of the reasons the Business West newspaper last year chose me one of the Top 40 Young Professionals under 40 in Western Massachusetts. Under my watch, I have supported millions in grants and projects that help business. I have supported hundreds of special permits, zone changes, land transfers, land acquisitions, redevelopment plans, tax incremental financing agreements during my years of service on the council. I will put my record up against anyone on the issue of support for business. Holyoke needs to remain business friendly and we can also do it in a way the respects and protects neighborhoods. As your councilor, I have always struck the right balance.
By The Republican Newsroom
October 26, 2009, 5:13PM
Elective office sought: Holyoke City Councilor-at-Large
Age: 37
Web site: holyokefirst.blogspot.com
Occupation and employer: Senior financial analyst, Sisters of Providence Health System
Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science and economics, UMass-Amherst, 1993; master’s degree, business administration Anna Maria College, 1999; juris doctor candidate, Massachusetts School of Law, 2010
Elective offices held: City Councilor-at Large, 1993-Present
Memberships: Knights of Columbus Council 90 and 4th Degree; Holy Cross Parish; Friends of the Holyoke Council on Aging and Senior Center
List any relatives now employed by state, federal or local government: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you running for office?
Because Holyoke voters need a fiscal watchdog in their city government who will make sure that our government is transparent and accountable to the voters while also making sure our budget is balanced with correct priorities without raising taxes. As the senior most member of the Finance Committee, I hold an MBA and work as a senior financial analyst in private sector, I understand how municipal finance works. As a lifelong Holyoker, husband and father with a family, I owe my beloved city, my time and energy to make sure it reaches its greatest potential for the benefit of our next generation.
What are your qualifications for the post?
City Councilor At Large 16 years, senior member of the Finance Committee, Chairman of Cable TV Committee,Vice Chairman of Public Service Committee, former trustee of Holyoke Community College, former supervisor on Board of Supervisors of T.J. O’Connor Animal Control Center
What are the key issues facing your community?
Economic development; private sector job creation; keeping a balanced city budget; preventing tax and sewer rate increases, and ensuring top quality city services such as police and fire protection. I also strongly support building a new senior center in Holyoke and I am leading the effort on the City Council to make it a reality. I have also been a leader for millions of dollars worth of new infrastructure improvements in our city; including, scores of new roads and sidewalks and I will continue to lead this effort.
Explain why you will or will not vote for the question on the ballot asking whether a charter commission should be established to study if changes should be made in city’s form of government.
I have no objection with having a charter commission provided it is not composed of individuals with a preset agenda. Certain valid things could stand fixing although there are other ways to do it without spending a lot of time and money on a charter commission. In the last 100 years, the Charter has been amended by the mayor and City Council dozens of times to accommodate the changing needs of the city. There has never been one change from a charter commission even when the city did one in 1973. A Charter Commission could be very good and could address a number of issues potentially. However, my chief concern is I oppose the current mayor’s foolish idea to create a charter commission to eliminate the office of mayor on his way out the door and return Holyoke to effectively a town form of government with an unelected city manager. This is absolutely ridiculous and makes one wonder why it took him 10 years to come to the conclusion his job was not needed. I strongly support a leadership of the city that is elected and directly accountable to the people of Holyoke and not to bring in some hired gun to tell us all what to do. Every mayor prior to the current one believed in our strong mayoral form of government. Voters should beware and ask lots of tough questions.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s top fiscal adviser is warning of a “perfect storm” of budget problems, raising the possibility of another round of emergency cuts to cities and towns. Should schools or police be immune from potential cuts or should all departments share the burden?
Holyoke must not lay off any teachers, police or fire personnel period. Our kids’ education and the community’s public safety are fundamental obligations that must never be compromised. I am proud to say that under my leadership on City Council, I have supported the creation of a $10 million stabilization fund plus a healthy free cash reserve of $5.8 million to weather these painful cuts without raising your taxes. Holyoke will be OK because we have been prepared. Holyoke’s budget has some areas of bloat that could be trimmed in order to give back some funds in order to avoid layoffs to core personnel. As your fiscal watchdog, I voted against this last budget because it was not lean enough. I have the fin’ancial skills and experience necessary to make sure our budget remains balanced no matter what the state throws at us. I will also be a voice to tell Boston: no more unfunded mandates.
“Revitalizing downtown” and “bringing in new business to boost the economy” are cliches heard around election time. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen, and please be specific. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen and please be specific.
I agree talk is cheap. Voters must look at all the candidates’ records. I have a strong track record of being supportive of economic development in the city. I have supported the development of the city’s infrastructure and dam acquisition so that we could take advantage of large new projects coming to Holyoke such as the new $100 million data center to the downtown. I have been a good ambassador for the city and it was one of the reasons the Business West newspaper last year chose me one of the Top 40 Young Professionals under 40 in Western Massachusetts. Under my watch, I have supported millions in grants and projects that help business. I have supported hundreds of special permits, zone changes, land transfers, land acquisitions, redevelopment plans, tax incremental financing agreements during my years of service on the council. I will put my record up against anyone on the issue of support for business. Holyoke needs to remain business friendly and we can also do it in a way the respects and protects neighborhoods. As your councilor, I have always struck the right balance.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Jourdain files Ordinance to prevent Holyoke Elected Officials from owing back taxes
While it may seem obvious that all elected officials should pay their taxes and utility bills, as we have come to learn this is not always the case. Unfortunately, when one does not pay, it calls into question before voters whether there are others of us who have not paid. I can tell you unequivocally I always pay my property taxes and utility bills.
I have also filed an Ordinance that will prevent any candidate for municipal office from running for city office if they owe personal property taxes or utlity bills. This ordinance will be taken under consideration at our October 20, 2009 meeting. It will likely be referred to the Ordinance Committee.
Under current law, no person is allowed to hold a license in the city unless they receive clearance from the Tax Collector. Elected officials should also be held to this standard that we created for everyone else.
Under my proposal, a candidate would have to get a letter from Tax Collector stating that they are fully paid prior to being allowed to take out nomination papers.
I have also filed an Ordinance that will prevent any candidate for municipal office from running for city office if they owe personal property taxes or utlity bills. This ordinance will be taken under consideration at our October 20, 2009 meeting. It will likely be referred to the Ordinance Committee.
Under current law, no person is allowed to hold a license in the city unless they receive clearance from the Tax Collector. Elected officials should also be held to this standard that we created for everyone else.
Under my proposal, a candidate would have to get a letter from Tax Collector stating that they are fully paid prior to being allowed to take out nomination papers.
Jourdain opposes Teacher Layoffs while Mayor raises Taxes!
Jeanette Deforge did a nice job on a story today about the schools that I would like to share with you.
The good news for laid off teachers and for the parents is Sullivan is gone on January 4th. At that time, hopefully the City Council and new Mayor can develop a reasonable compromise for some additional funds for our schools. I have also explained to some of the school committee members that one of the conditions for extra funds requires that they fufill their prior commitment to move their headquarters out of Suffolk Street and into Lawrence School. This will save $400K. That alone could pay for 8 teachers.
In a related development, Mayor Sullivan setup the hiring process for the new Superintendent so that we have the new one being trained by Mr. Carballo and the city will incur an additional 6 months salary. Why would we want to hire a new Superintendent who is so lacking in skills as they actually need to be trained by their predecessor? This is the first I have ever heard of this in any job. This would be like Sullivan staying for 6 months to train the new Mayor.
Mayor Sullivan has raised our tax levy $20 million a year since he took office resulting in $110 million in additional taxes over his tenure yet cannot manage his budget so as to avoid layoffs. Our children suffer by increased class sizes and the situation is unaceptable. Unfortunately, he will not listen. As your fiscal watchdog, I will continue to demand better of our city government and in just a few short months will work closely with the new Mayor to hopefully turn this trend around.
Holyoke board wants more teachers
Sunday, October 18, 2009
By JEANETTE DeFORGE
jdeforge@repub.com
HOLYOKE - The School Committee has been forced to return $900,000 to the city, but School Committee members are hoping to receive some extra money to hire more teachers.
Current programs or teachers will not have to be cut more because the money that was returned was never allocated to be spent in this year's $76.6 million budget, said Patricia A. Cavanaugh, executive director of finance and operations for the school department.
The funding formula set by the Education Reform Law of 1993 requires each community to spend a certain amount of money on schools, which is a percentage of the amount of state assistance. Since Holyoke is one of the poorest communities in the state, 90 percent of the school budget is funded with state assistance.
This year when the amount of state assistance proposed by the House was later cut by the Senate, the amount of money the city had to contribute was also reduced.
In a recent School Committee meeting, members said they are still encouraged by requests from the City Council to submit information about class sizes and the number of teachers who were laid off this year.
The request was proposed by City Council member Kevin A. Jourdain, who said he was concerned about large class sizes he is seeing in his children's classrooms at Lt. Clayre P. Sullivan School. He said he might support adding money into the school budget to decrease class size.
"Class sizes are crazy. Now we have a way to get teachers and paras (paraprofessional teaching assistants) back to the schools," said Dennis W. Birks Jr.
But Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, who also serves as School Committee chairman, said the City Council does not have the authority to allocate money for the schools or any other place.
The city charter says only the mayor can propose an allocation. The City Council must accept the proposal for it to happen. It can also reduce the allocation or reject it.
Sullivan said he will not support any requests to spend additional money on the schools. He said he would object to taking money from the city's about $9 million savings account, saying there is no way to sustain the amount so it would just cause more cuts the next year.
"There is no money," he said.
Additionally, revenue for the state is much lower than predicted and the governor has warned cities and towns they may see mid-year budget cuts, Sullivan said.
©2009 The Republican
© 2009 MassLive.com All Rights Reserved.
The good news for laid off teachers and for the parents is Sullivan is gone on January 4th. At that time, hopefully the City Council and new Mayor can develop a reasonable compromise for some additional funds for our schools. I have also explained to some of the school committee members that one of the conditions for extra funds requires that they fufill their prior commitment to move their headquarters out of Suffolk Street and into Lawrence School. This will save $400K. That alone could pay for 8 teachers.
In a related development, Mayor Sullivan setup the hiring process for the new Superintendent so that we have the new one being trained by Mr. Carballo and the city will incur an additional 6 months salary. Why would we want to hire a new Superintendent who is so lacking in skills as they actually need to be trained by their predecessor? This is the first I have ever heard of this in any job. This would be like Sullivan staying for 6 months to train the new Mayor.
Mayor Sullivan has raised our tax levy $20 million a year since he took office resulting in $110 million in additional taxes over his tenure yet cannot manage his budget so as to avoid layoffs. Our children suffer by increased class sizes and the situation is unaceptable. Unfortunately, he will not listen. As your fiscal watchdog, I will continue to demand better of our city government and in just a few short months will work closely with the new Mayor to hopefully turn this trend around.
Holyoke board wants more teachers
Sunday, October 18, 2009
By JEANETTE DeFORGE
jdeforge@repub.com
HOLYOKE - The School Committee has been forced to return $900,000 to the city, but School Committee members are hoping to receive some extra money to hire more teachers.
Current programs or teachers will not have to be cut more because the money that was returned was never allocated to be spent in this year's $76.6 million budget, said Patricia A. Cavanaugh, executive director of finance and operations for the school department.
The funding formula set by the Education Reform Law of 1993 requires each community to spend a certain amount of money on schools, which is a percentage of the amount of state assistance. Since Holyoke is one of the poorest communities in the state, 90 percent of the school budget is funded with state assistance.
This year when the amount of state assistance proposed by the House was later cut by the Senate, the amount of money the city had to contribute was also reduced.
In a recent School Committee meeting, members said they are still encouraged by requests from the City Council to submit information about class sizes and the number of teachers who were laid off this year.
The request was proposed by City Council member Kevin A. Jourdain, who said he was concerned about large class sizes he is seeing in his children's classrooms at Lt. Clayre P. Sullivan School. He said he might support adding money into the school budget to decrease class size.
"Class sizes are crazy. Now we have a way to get teachers and paras (paraprofessional teaching assistants) back to the schools," said Dennis W. Birks Jr.
But Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, who also serves as School Committee chairman, said the City Council does not have the authority to allocate money for the schools or any other place.
The city charter says only the mayor can propose an allocation. The City Council must accept the proposal for it to happen. It can also reduce the allocation or reject it.
Sullivan said he will not support any requests to spend additional money on the schools. He said he would object to taking money from the city's about $9 million savings account, saying there is no way to sustain the amount so it would just cause more cuts the next year.
"There is no money," he said.
Additionally, revenue for the state is much lower than predicted and the governor has warned cities and towns they may see mid-year budget cuts, Sullivan said.
©2009 The Republican
© 2009 MassLive.com All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Jourdain Endorsed By Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO!!
Holyoke - City Councilor At Large Kevin Jourdain was very proud this week to receive the endorsement of the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Central Labor Council. "In these tough economic times, where the real unemployment rate surges on 17%, it is nice to know that one of the strongest voices for Holyoke's working families has recognized my hard work on their behalf and have joined my campaign for re-election."
Councilor Jourdain was very appreciative of the endorsement and continues to work hard to be the voters' Fiscal Watchdog on the City Council so that all Holyoke families benefit from a financial responsbile city government that meets their needs.
Councilor Jourdain was very appreciative of the endorsement and continues to work hard to be the voters' Fiscal Watchdog on the City Council so that all Holyoke families benefit from a financial responsbile city government that meets their needs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)