North Adams City Council Getting Draft Budget For 2012

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council will have its first look at Mayor Richard Alcombright's proposed $36 million budget for fiscal 2013 on Tuesday night.

Also on the agenda is an update from the Traffic Commission on a request for more handicapped parking at certain spots in the downtown, final approval of a new compensation and classification plan reached with the police union and discussion on outstanding taxes and collections efforts.

The council meets Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting are broadcast live on NBCTV.

In his communication to the council, the mayor states he does not believe the city is ending the fiscal year in a strong position, but still better than last fiscal year. The budget is currently out of balance by $270,000.

He is asking for the draft to be referred to the Finance Committee for review. The committee will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, May 23 and 24, and Wednesday, June 6, all at 5 p.m. in council chambers.
CityCouncil2012-05-22

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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