Chapter 70 Fix Adds $2.4M to Pittsfield School Budget

Marchetti Defends Pittsfield Tax Rates in Advance of FY25 Budget

Mayor Peter Marchetti defended the city's tax rate on Tuesday, asking residents to look at all of the figures before making a judgment.

Pittsfield School Officials Dig Into 'Not Ideal' FY25 Budget

Superintendent Joseph Curtis reiterated that the $80 million spending plan is not ideal but assured that the district will continue to serve its community with pride, purpose, compassion, and understanding.

Pittsfield Mayor Open to Level/Service Funded Budget

Mayor Peter Marchetti won't support the sacrifices a level-funded city budget would entail but is willing to compromise.

Pittsfield Public School Budget Cuts Trigger Little Feedback at Hearing

The proposed districtwide reductions include 27 teachers, 26 paraprofessionals, and seven instruction and accountability coordinators.

Pittsfield's $80M School Budget Proposal 'Not Ideal,' Cuts Over 100 Employees

The school administration delivered a somber budget presentation for fiscal 2025, including a proposed reduction of more than 100 staff members.

New Finance Subcommittee Sees Pittsfield Q2 Financial Review

The Finance subcommittee last week was presented with a second-quarter review of fiscal 2024, which ended on Dec. 31.

New Pittsfield School Committee Meets for First Time

The new School Committee met for the first time on Wednesday, organizing its leadership and approving a budget calendar for fiscal 2025.

Pittsfield Council Divided on Level-Funded Budget Petition

Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso is stunned by tax rate increases and wants the city to take immediate action in preparation for the fiscal 2025 budget season.

Kronick's Charter Objections Cause Unrest in Pittsfield Council Chambers

President Peter Marchetti pleaded for him to reconsider the motions, as these costs will become taxpayers' burden if they are not appropriated by the end of the fiscal year on Friday.

Pittsfield Council Approves $205M Budget

The City Council approved a $205 million operating budget for fiscal 2024 on Tuesday.

Pittsfield City Council Gives Initial OK to Police, Public Services Budgets

On the last day of fiscal 2024 budget hearings last week, the City Council preliminarily approved five departmental spending plans and a $205 million city budget.

Pittsfield Budget Day 3: School Budget

The City Council preliminarily approved a $78 million budget for the Pittsfield Public Schools on Tuesday, up almost 8 percent from the previous year.

Pittsfield 2024 Budget Day Two: 14 Budgets Reviewed

In the second session of fiscal 2024 budget hearings, the City Council preliminarily approved 14 departmental spending plans on Wednesday.

2024 Budget Day 1: Pittsfield Council OKs 9 Department Budgets

The City Council preliminarily approved nine departmental budgets on Wednesday, the first day of hearings for fiscal year 2024.

Pittsfield Council Refers FY24 Budget Items to Committee of Whole

The proposed operating budget for FY24 is $205,634,497 — almost $17,000,000 or 8.9 percent higher than the this year's budget of $188,822,018.

Pittsfield Council to See $205M FY24 Budget Proposal

The proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2024 is almost $17,000,000, or 8.9 percent higher, than the previous year at $187,438,911.

Pittsfield School Committee OKs $78M Fiscal 2024 Budget

The School Committee on Wednesday approved a $78 million budget, which is a 7.86 percent increase over this year.

Pittsfield School Committee Continues Budget Conversation Ahead of April 26 Vote

The committee is expected to adopt a budget on April 26 and have a joint meeting with the City Council no later than June 1.

Pittsfield School Committee Digs Into FY24 Budget

The superintendent last week defended the need for a co-principal at Morningside Community School at a cost of $105,000.

Pittsfield School Committee Sees $78M Budget Proposal

The School Committee got a first look at the upcoming budget request on Wednesday. The $78,310,016 ask is an 8.17 percent — or $5,911,754 — increase from FY23's budget of $72,398,262.

Pittsfield Local Receipts Trending High, Cannabis Revenues Dropping

Of the estimated $800,000 in cannabis tax, $332,491 was collected by the end of the second quarter, representing 41.6 percent.

Pittsfield Council's Budget Recommendations Survive Charter Objection

With the amendments, the budget totals $188,822,018.

Two Charter Objections Called at Pittsfield City Council Meeting, One for the FY23 Budget

Tuesday's City Council meeting saw two charter objections, one for the city's $189 million fiscal 2023 budget and another on a petition to ban nip bottles in Pittsfield.

Pittsfield Committee of the Whole Approves $72M School Budget

The city's $188,706,018 fiscal 2023 budget was amended from the original proposal of $188,589,144 due to a change in the Finance and Administration department's re-evaluation line from $95,750 to $212,624. It is $9,500,055 higher than fiscal 2022.

Pittsfield Budget Day 3: Council Gives OK to 7 Department Budgets

On the third day of fiscal 2023 budget hearings, the City Council, sitting as the Council of the Whole, preliminarily approved spending for seven departments as well as the water, sewer, and wastewater enterprise funds.

Pittsfield City Council Gives Preliminary OK to 9 Department Budgets

On the second day of the fiscal 2023 budget hearings last week, the City Council preliminary passed nine departmental budgets in an hour with just one suggested amendment.

Pittsfield Council Begins Review of Fiscal 2023 Budget

The City Council on Tuesday spent four hours beginning its review of the city's $172 million budget, preliminarily passing nine departments' spending plans as proposed.

Tyer Proposes $189M Pittsfield Budget, Up $10M

Mayor Linda Tyer's request to raise and appropriate $188,589,144 for the FY23 operating budget was referred to the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.

Pittsfield School Committee OKs $72M Fiscal 2023 Budget

The budget of $72,398,262 is a 7.56 percent, or $5,086,562, increase from this year. Most of the increase is in contractual obligations, which increased by about $4.7 million.