Council adopts tax relief resolution on 8-3 vote
The Agawam City Council voted 8-3 to urge the state to exempt overtime pay and tips from income tax, despite warnings the move could cost Massachusetts $660 million in revenue.
Select Board · Meeting of September 9, 2026
AGAWAM — The Agawam City Council voted 8-3 to urge the state to exempt overtime pay and tips from income tax, despite warnings the move could cost Massachusetts $660 million in revenue. Councilor Bitsis sponsored the resolution, arguing the state ran a "$1.928 billion" surplus over its fiscal 2026 budget and could absorb the loss. Councilor Hendrickson countered, "I haven't heard a single, specific thing that they would like us to cut spending on." Councilors Rossi, Sandlin and Hendrickson voted no.
Separately, the council unanimously confirmed former councilor Peter Smuss to the Licensing Commission, approved a second-reading data center moratorium, advanced a first-reading ban on cryptocurrency ATMs after citing $77 million in statewide 2024 crypto scam losses, and raised e-bike violation fines to as much as $300 with a 15-day impoundment. Residents also pressed the council to cancel its Flock camera contract, calling it "mass surveillance."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,397 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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