How should Northampton address its school funding crisis? The simple answer: Increase the budget. The harder question: Where does the money come from, and at what cost? We need to discuss this issue without reducing it to accusations of not supporting students and educators.
Suppose we increase the school budget by 13% instead of the city’s planned 4%. That extra $4 million — growing annually— must come from somewhere. Some argue Northampton underestimates revenue and hoards large surpluses. But is this mismanagement, or responsible planning? The state recommends cities maintain a 5–7% surplus; Northampton aims for just 3–5%. These funds aren’t frivolous — they protect our credit rating, fund one-time capital needs (including school projects), and serve as a buffer against economic downturns.
Does it feel good to see unspent money when schools need more support? Of course not. But good governance requires looking beyond what feels good. Questioning a larger school budget doesn’t mean opposing education. It means grappling with complex tradeoffs. Public education is a vital investment, but easy answers don’t solve hard problems. We all want better-funded schools. The real challenge is finding sustainable funding within the larger context of Northampton’s budget realities. We can’t do that by pointing fingers at each other.
Sam Masinter
Northampton