Alex Jarrett, Former City Councilor Ward 5, Northampton

01/20/2026

I'll be joining Ward 5 City Councilor Aline Davis tonight (Tue Jan 20) at the Lilly Library Community Room, 19 Meadow St, Florence from 6 to 7:30 pm for a community gathering. I hope you can join us!

01/14/2026

Aline Davis' January Ward 5 Newsletter is out:
https://alinedavis.substack.com/p/ward-5-newsletter

In this issue:
* City Council Organizational Meeting
* Massachusetts Municipal Association meetings
* NHS Elm Street/Woodlawn Avenue Safety Project Update
* 2025 Ordinance Review report
* CPA funding approved
* Briefs: expanded car leasing, citywide portfolio review, styrofoam collection, a song!

Subscribe here: https://alinedavis.substack.com/

01/05/2026

The 2026 City of Northampton Inauguration is tomorrow at the Northampton Senior Center! 10 am, 67 Conz Street.

12/09/2025

CANCELED due to a lack of quorum.

Please join our Finance Committee this Wednesday, December 10th, at 6 pm for the annual Budget Listening Session. It will be held in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, and on Zoom. Here is the agenda and access information:

https://www.northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12102025-8863?html=true

More information:

https://northamptonma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2074

12/04/2025

My Ward 5 December 2025 newsletter is out:

https://mailchi.mp/alexjarrett/ward5dec25

In this issue:
* Autumn Community Preservation Act funding
* Solar and geothermal school projects
* From Councilor-elect Aline Davis
* From School Committee member-elect Amy Martyn
* Briefs: Ordinance Review report; Tax classification decision; Toy Exchange December 5th & 6th; Styrofoam collection January 10th; Stop signs

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11/06/2025

My Ward 5 November 2025 newsletter is out:

https://mailchi.mp/alexjarrett/ward5nov25

In this issue:
* Municipal election results
* Tax rate, classification, and exemptions
* Changing the State's school funding formula
* Briefs: Historic structures ordinance approved; Crosswalk parking prohibition enforcement; Allowing wine & malt licenses to be converted to all-alcohol; Vacant storefront tax credits; Community Care Fall clothing & gear drive

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11/03/2025

Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4th! The polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. In Ward 5, we vote at:

* Ward 5 precinct A: Florence Civic and Business Building, 90 Park Street
* Ward 5 precinct B: Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, 80 Locust Street

If you are unsure of your polling location, you can use the State's Find My Election Location​ page (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema//bal/myelectioninfo.aspx). You can also contact the Northampton Registrar of Voters at 413-587-1089.

I've compiled information on all of the candidates in contested elections (and one not) here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OBmE_pnhPc9-qXPbKQSclcJhaL8DyI6Qe_YHiWKKv28/edit?usp=sharing

10/30/2025

I recently wrote this response to a resident with budget questions:

"As an outgoing councilor who very shortly won't be making budget decisions, my focus has been to explain the finances without saying there is a right way to allocate funds. Rather, to show that significant compromise is needed in order to fund schools more, and that candidates should be talking about the cuts they will make if they are proposing more.

The first point I would emphasize is that our expenses are rising faster than our revenues.

On the expenses side, much of our costs are salaries and benefits. The new school contract is likely to require a 5.5% annual increase, possibly more, in order to maintain level services. That rough calculation comes from the 3-4% cost of living increases, and that steps are typically an average 2.5% increase. Most of the budget is personnel, but there may be ways to trim the transportation, utilities and other costs so they don't increase as much to pull the total increase down. The cost of benefits is separate. Last year that total cost increased by 6.27%, with health insurance, the largest benefit expense, at 9.88%. For next year, the Group Insurance Commission (which we are a part of) estimates a 15% increase in health insurance costs. All of these costs put enormous pressure on the rest of the budget.

On the revenue side, we are limited to a 2.5% property tax increase plus new growth (new buildings and additions), which has added around another 1%. Local receipts revenue has been stronger than that the past few years, but is a comparatively small percentage of the budget. State aid increases often don't keep up with inflation.

Any reasonable outlook should plan ahead for the next 5 years, using best financial practices (the State gives guidance on these). While in one year it can be workable to estimate revenues higher in order to spend more, you can't do that over and over again or you reach the ceiling, causing there to be no surplus. In municipal finance, surplus and debt service are the two primary ways to fund capital needs.

My understanding is that if we reduce our capital spending further (roads, sidewalks, buildings, vehicles etc.), we will not be keeping up with depreciation and will be deferring maintenance. That will ultimately cost us more later. The current plan as outlined in the latest Capital Improvement Program already relies on drawing from reserves to sustain the necessary capital funding over the next 4 years.

Altogether, it is a very tight situation with unknowns (such as possible loss of the $2 million per year we receive from Federal education grants). It's not that we can't increase school funding, but that we would need to reduce services in other departments, or reduce capital spending to the extent that we would be deferring maintenance in an unsustainable way. My wish is that candidates understand this situation and speak to the trade-offs in a realistic way. That may not win votes however.

Send a message to learn more

10/28/2025

It's great to see these reflective posts back at the intersection of South Main, Nonotuck, Elm and Federal Streets! A study is underway to assess further improvements.

This area is Priority #20 in our Complete Streets Prioritization Plan:

Priority Rank #20: Project ID #35, Nonotuck/S Main Crossing Improvement (Estimated Project Cost: $140,000) Due to the acute intersection geometry, S Main Street’s south sidewalk transitions into Nonotuck Street’s north sidewalk, but lacks a designated crossing of Nonotuck. To enhance pedestrian connectivity at this challenging intersection, this project includes a small curb extension at the northwest corner and a new crosswalk—with associated landings and ramps—across Nonotuck Street. These recommendations complement the quick-build traffic calming measures recently installed by the City of Northampton.

For more: https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19849/Northampton-CSPP-Summary-Memo-Final_20220419

10/18/2025

My special November 4th, 2025 election issue is out:

https://mailchi.mp/alexjarrett/ward5election25

In this issue:
* General election information
* Upcoming forums
* Candidate information
* Let's talk budgets - October 20th
* Endorsements

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