BOSTON, Mass. — After closing the 2011 books, the state is giving $65 million back to cities and towns.
State Sen. Benjamin Downing, D - Pittsfield, announced the updated figures on Friday and municipalities should expect the money by the end of the month. The money will be distributed to ensure that no city or town receives less in direct aid than it received in Fiscal Year 2011, according to Downing.
"This additional payment represents a commitment my colleagues and I made to our communities back home during the Senate’s budget debate in the spring to provide as much Local Aid support as possible this fiscal year," said Downing. "I hope this additional funding will help cities and towns advance projects and provide local services this year."
An additional $1.5 million will be distributed to the 48 western communities of Downing’s Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Senate District. The payments will be made by the State Comptroller by October 31, 2011.
Additional payments to the cities and towns of the Berkshires:
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Editor: The amount of local aid doled out is based on a complex equation. Williamstown doesn't historically get as much as some of the other towns, and therefore doesn't rely on it as much.
The editor is wrong when she states North Adams has a deficit of $400,000 plus. This figure is based upon what the city will need when it sets its tax rate in November. There cannot be a deficit if the tax rate hasn't been set. The Mayor is confused on this and thus the press reports incorrectly. In fact the City can use this money in many different ways including special projects, or for pay raises which the Mayor has promised the unions after the election is over!
Would the editor know if, when the $400k deficit is calculated, is that using the current tax rate or the levy limit. Just wondering. Keep in mind if the $271 is not used to pay the deficit, the defecit remains.
Berkshire County Sheriff's Office Warns Public of Phone Scam
PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler is warning members of the community about an ongoing phone scam involving individuals falsely claiming to be employees of, or affiliated with, the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office has received an increased number of calls from community members reporting that they were contacted by someone claiming to be a member of the Sheriff's Office from numbers with 413 area codes that sometimes show up on a caller ID as Berkshire County Sheriff's Department. During these calls, the caller claims the resident owes money for various reasons and attempts to collect payment. Scammers may request money orders, cashier checks, gift cards, or other items. Sometimes scammers will say a courier will come to a house to pick up the item or will request that account or gift card information be read over the phone.
The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office will never call a community member to demand or collect payment, request gift cards, or ask for. The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office will never send a courier to a resident's house. Residents should not assume a call is legitimate simply because the Sheriff's Office number appears on their caller ID.
Residents should not assume a call is legitimate simply because the Sheriff's Office number appears on their caller ID. The scammers are also spoofing the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office phone number, causing the legitimate number to appear on the recipient's caller ID in an effort to make the call appear authentic. Spoofing is when a scammer disguises a phone number, email address, or website to look like someone they know or a trusted agency's number.
"Scammers use fear, urgency, and the credibility of law enforcement to convince people that their demands are legitimate," said Sheriff Thomas Bowler. "If you receive a call like this, hang up. Do not provide personal or financial information, and do not send or transfer money."
Residents who receive a suspicious call should independently contact the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office at (413) 443-7220 to verify whether the call was legitimate. Do not use a phone number provided by the caller to verify their identity.
Sheriff Bowler urges residents to share this information with family members, friends, and neighbors, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.
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