• Secured an A+ bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, reducing costs in tight financial times.
• Created the city’s first stabilization and capital improvement funds.
• Successfully lobbied the state legislature and Governor for local option hotel and meals tax.
• Kept increases in employee health insurance well below the average increase of other cities and towns across the state.
• Negotiated Smith College’s first agreement with the city for payment in lieu of property taxes.

• Initiated a citizens’ education program, Cityschool, a 10-week workshop introducing residents to how their city government works.
• Oversaw the creation of the city website (www.northamptonma.gov), allowing citizens to: review meeting minutes, current year budgets, learn about boards, commissions, and how to contact city officials.
• Engaged hundreds of citizens in the budget process through briefingsin every ward.
• Increased the number of citizen committees, including the Youth Commission.
• Won Common Cause’s “Campaign for Open Government” E-Government Award in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

• Spearheaded the recent override to support city schools.
• Has committed to keeping small class sizes.
• Recommended more than $3.5 million in capital improvements to school buildings.
• Established the James House as the Northampton Community Education Consortium for Adult Education, GED testing and family support services.
• Worked with state Senator Rosenberg and Representative Kocot to secure permanent state funding for the Clarke School.

• Saved affordable housing at Meadowbrook Apartments for 99 years.
• Negotiated for the creation of affordable housing units from Smith College for 99 years.
• Led the drive for mixed-income, eco-friendly housing at Village Hill.
• Helped secure more than $4 million in federal and state grants to upgrade Northampton Housing Authority apartments.

• Increased Northampton’s conservation land: 40 percent of all open space in the city was acquired during her administration.
• Initiated the Sustainable Northampton Plan, the first comprehensive strategic plan in a generation, involving the input of hundreds ofNorthampton residents over the course of a year.
• Garnered top grades from the state on smart growth development.
• Completed more than five miles of new bike paths in the city, installed traffic bike lanes and oversaw installation of new bike racks throughout downtown.
• Appointed an energy officer to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and reduce annual costs for heat and light.

• Developed the Tax Increment Financing Program for local businesses, leveraging $60,500,000 in new investment, preserving 850+ jobs, adding 100 new jobs, and adding $860,000 to the tax rolls.
• Works with Academy of Music trustees, staff and the public to transform the historic theater into a vibrant live performance venue.
• Acquired more than $20 million in federal and state grants to supportredevelopment of the State Hospital, the Fairgrounds and James House.
• Works with the Fair Association, the Chamber and the Ward Three neighbors to transform the Fairgrounds into a year-round hub for arts and agricultural exhibitions.

Clare cares about public safety:

• Negotiated with police and fire to leave the state’s antiquated civil service system, which has allowed the city to hire more efficiently, draw from a bigger pool of candidates and save money.
• Supported the Northampton Police Department as it became one of only a few accredited police departments in the state.
• Instituted the 911 Ambulance service through the Northampton Fire Department.
• Named a citizen’s advisory committee to oversee design and construction of a new police station.

Higgins forMayor