Williams College Seeks Home for Winter Blitz Weatherization

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College’s Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives is seeking homeowners in Northern Berkshire County, as well as Pownal and Bennington in Vermont, who would like their homes weatherized for the upcoming winter.

The weatherization efforts will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7, during the college’s eighth annual Winter Blitz day. Homeowners who are seeking to lower their energy costs or who cannot weatherize themselves are encouraged to participate.

During Winter Blitz, teams of students go out and prepare homes for winter weather by installing storm windows, door sweeps and energy-efficient light bulbs. Trained student leaders lead teams and all materials are paid for by the Zilkha Center.

The benefits of weatherization include lower energy bills and energy conservation. The average un-weatherized home leaks air at a rate equivalent to a four-foot-square hole in the wall. Weatherization can save homeowners 25 to 40 percent on their heating and cooling bills.

If you are interested in having your home weatherized with Winter Blitz and saving money on your energy bill, please call 413-547-1787 or send an email to williamswinterblitz@gmail.com. The program is accepting homes in Williamstown, Pownal, North Adams, Adams, northern Lanesborough and Bennington.

 


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Williamstown Finance Committee Finalizes Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The tax bill of a median-priced single family home will go up by 8.45 percent in the year that begins July 1 under a spending plan approved by the Finance Committee on Wednesday night.
 
After more than a month of going through all proposed spending by the town and public schools and searching for places to trim the budget and adjust revenue estimates, the Fin Comm voted to send a series of fiscal articles to the May 19 annual town meeting for approval.
 
The panel also discussed how to appeal to town meeting members to reverse what Fin Comm members long have described as an anti-growth sentiment in town that keeps the tax base from expanding.
 
New growth in the tax base is generated by new construction or improvements to property that raise its value. A lack of new growth (the town projects 15 percent less revenue from new growth in fiscal year 2027 than it had in FY26) means that increased spending falls more heavily on current taxpayers.
 
The two largest spending articles on the draft warrant for the May meeting are the appropriations for general government spending and the assessment from the Mount Greylock Regional School District.
 
The former, which includes the Department of Public Works, the Williamstown Police and town hall staffing, is up by just 2.5 percent from the current fiscal year to FY27 — from $10.6 million to $10.9 million.
 
The latter, which pays for Williamstown Elementary School and the town's share of the middle-high school, is up 13.7 percent, from $14.8 million to $16.8 million.
 
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