Tuesday, May 21, 2013 01:35pm
North Adams, MA now: 84 °   
Send news, tips, press releases and questions to info@iBerkshires.com
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
SIGN IN | REGISTER NOW   

 
TOP STORIES AROUND THE COUNTY

Usage Fees Will Not Solve Mt. Greylock Budget Woes

By Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
07:30AM / Friday, June 17, 2011
Print | Email
Important
0
Interesting
0
Funny
0
Awesome
0
Infuriating
0
Ridiculous
0
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Funds from outside entities using the high school's campus alone will not fix the school's budget woes following Lanesborough's vote to short the school its assessment request.

According to Mount Greylock Regional High School's Director of Finance Jennifer Coscia, a revolving account that collects money from various groups that use the school has little funds left. The account, used for the building's maintenance, has only about $1,200 left, she said – a far cry from the $90,000 needed for its proposed budget.

That usage revolving account is not factored into the budget, Coscia said, but is accounted for in the yearly audit.

"We have other people who use the building and all the money goes into that account," Coscia said on Thursday.

That money is intended to cover maintenance costs building incurred by the usage, Coscia said, and there are multiple groups that pay to use the campus. One such group is Overland Travel, who has been using the campus for the last three years and plans to return this summer.

Overland is paying $2,050 for its use this summer, Coscia said. The group pays to set up tents on a portion of the property and to have access to one bathroom.

"We don't really have expenses from them," Coscia said. "There really isn't a cost to us."

That income helps to lower the school's maintenance costs, Coscia said.

Tom Costley, who founded the youth programming company and who is also a town selectman, said the agreement between the school is "reasonable" Thursday. The company reached the agreement four years ago with then Superintendent William Travis and it will continue this year under current Superintendent Rose Ellis.

"Overland is doing what we can to contribute to the school and we're happy to do it," Costley said. "We've been very good guests in leaving no trace."

Between June and August, the company has groups of teenagers camping on the grounds. A particular group only spends one night at the high school. The campers spend time at other locations around town such as on the Williams College campus as well, Costley said.

"It's just one of the places we use and it's not every night," Costley said. "We ask very little of them."

The campers make it priority to leave the campus in the same condition it was when they arrive, he said. Coscia said the agreement does allow the company to use the gymnasium in bad weather.

School officials are expected to debate the next steps for the budget next Tuesday. Lanesborough voted down the request to even out the amount of reserves both entities have – leaving the school with a $90,000 difference to make up. The steps could lead to a joint town meeting that could overturn the Lanesborough voters' decision and force them to pay the full assessment.

Tags: budget,   Mount Greylock,   

24Comments

RECENT STORIES



iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.smithbrosmcandrews.com
www.mtwilliamsgreenhouses.com
www.bedardbros.com
www.camphalfmoon.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com

 
View All
Baseball: Monument at Drury
5/20/13 The Drury baseball team lost to Monument Mountain...
Steel Rail Half Marathon
About 500 people ran the Steel Rail Half Marathon, which...
U-14 Boys Soccer
5/18/13 The North Adams U-14 Boys Soccer team NA Rovers...
Drury High Prom 2013
Drury High School held its prom on Saturday night at the...
McCann Tech Prom 2013
McCann Technical School held its senior prom Saturday night...
MCLA Graduation 2013
MCLA held the 2013 commencement on Saturday.
Mount Everett High Prom 2013
5/17/13 Mount Everett High School held its senior prom...
Third Thursday May 2013
Third Thursdays returned this week. The Pittsfield festival...
Softball: Drury at Pittsfield
5/16/13 The Drury girls softball team traveled to...
Torchia SB League
5/15/13 The Pat Torchia Softball League, played Wednesday...
Williams College Children...
Jennifer Marlowe's prekindergarten class visited North...
LAX: Mt. Anthony at Greylock
The Mount Greylock girl's lacrosse team took on visiting...
LAX: Wahconah at Hoosac
The Wahconah girls lacrosse team traveled to Hoosac Valley,...
Baseball: Monument at...
Mount Greylock rallied from down five runs to beat visiting...
LAX: Lee at Greylock
Mount Greylock took down visiting Lee 21-2 on Friday...
Lenox High Prom 2013
5/10/13 Lenox High School held its senior prom Friday at...
Baseball: Monument at Drury
5/20/13 The Drury baseball team lost to Monument Mountain...
Steel Rail Half Marathon
About 500 people ran the Steel Rail Half Marathon, which...
U-14 Boys Soccer
5/18/13 The North Adams U-14 Boys Soccer team NA Rovers...
Drury High Prom 2013
Drury High School held its prom on Saturday night at the...
McCann Tech Prom 2013
McCann Technical School held its senior prom Saturday night...
| Home | A & E | Business | Community News | Dining | Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Weddings | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
iBerkshires.com is owned and operated by: Boxcar Media 102 Main Street, North Adams, MA 01247 -- T. 413-663-3384 F.413-473-8799
© 2012 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved