Usage Fees Will Not Solve Mt. Greylock Budget WoesBy Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
07:30AM / Friday, June 17, 2011
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.
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