Environmental Bond Bill Contains Earmarks for Dalton, Hinsdale

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BOSTON — State Rep. Paul W. Mark of Peru joined his colleagues in putting forth a comprehensive environmental bond bill containing more than $2 billion for improvements to air, water, parkway and trail quality across the commonwealth. Within this bill, Mark was able to secure $5.5 million dollars in earmarks for environmental revitalization and cleanup in Berkshire and Franklin counties.
 
"These funds will help our communities undertake important projects that will improve our environment and quality of life while also providing a path forward for sustainable growth," the Peru Democrat said.  
 
H.4559 allocates $1 million for the removal of hazardous materials and cleanup at the old Dalton High School site; $500,000 for flood and drainage improvements surrounding the Skyline Trail in the town of Hinsdale; and $500,000 for pond dredging and safety improvements at Highland Park in the city of Greenfield. 
 
The bill also re-authorizes a $1 million grant to the town of Greenfield for environmental remediation and brownfield redevelopment at the former Bendix site and $2.5 million for the building of a gravity-fed sewer connecting Main Street and Jacksonville Road to the sewage treatment plant in the town of Colrain through a former 2014 bond bill, effectively renewing these accounts until 2023.
 
The Senate will also debate an environmental bond bill in the coming weeks.

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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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