 Baker Proposes Tax Relief Measures, Major Rainy-Day Fund DepositThe legislation filed Friday by the Baker-Polito administration will also make a deposit to the Stabilization Fund to bring the fund balance to $3 billion, the highest balance ever.  Clarksburg Sees Fiscal 2019 Revenues IncreaseTown Accountant Donna Estes told the Finance Committee on Monday that the two largest drivers were motor vehicle excise tax and delinquent property tax fees.  Lanesborough Closes Book on Fiscal 2019The Board of Selectmen closed the fiscal year's books on Monday after transferring some $63,538 from health insurance to cover deficits elsewhere in the budget. Of particular concern for Finance Committee member Ronald Tinkham was a $45,167 overage in winter roads supplies and repairs. The town, under the previous manager, had been creeping that budget figure up to become more accurate. Tinkham believes that should continue to eliminate deficits.  Williamstown Select Board Makes Advisory Votes on Town Meeting ArticlesThe board unanimously voted in favor of all the town and school spending articles, which have been reviewed and approved by the town's Finance Committee throughout the winter and spring.  Williamstown Town Manager Supports Funding Requests From Non-ProfitsJason Hoch addressed the town's Finance Committee two days after a member of the Select Board suggested that the town reevaluate the level of its support to the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce.  Pittsfield Schools Projecting Surplus But With Areas of ConcernTuition payments are down significantly this year but the savings is being eaten up by other areas of the school budget. Deputy Superintendent Kristin Behnke provided the School Committee with a mid-year budget report on Wednesday. The good news is that the trend appears to a show a surplus at the end of the year, thanks to the tuition savings and other under budget trending lines.  Pittsfield Still Concerned About Police, Fire OT BudgetsThe city will overspend on public safety overtime and snow and ice. The accounts have been on the watch list for Director of Finance Matthew Kerwood and by halfway through the year the budgets for police and fire overtime are just about spent and snow and ice removal is overspent. Kerwood says the city will have to transfer money from other budget lines to cover those deficits.  Pittsfield Remains Concerned With Police, Fire Overtime SpendingPolice and fire overtime continues to be a financial concern. The two accounts, as well as snow and ice, have been on the city's financial team's radar for a number of years as it seems that those accounts are routinely underfunded and officials have to find money to cover the deficits from other places. That hasn't changed this year as all three accounts are trending above budget.  Clarksburg Tax Rate Up 3 Percent for Fiscal 2019The Select Board on Wednesday approved a single tax rate for fiscal 2019 of $15.99 per $1,000 valuation, up from $15.31 last year.  North Adams Council Opts to Reduce Tax Burden on BusinessAfter nearly 90 minutes of discussion, the council voted 8-1 to keep the property tax shift at 1.71. It took the council some time to struggle through amending the order submitted by the mayor's office.  North Adams' Commercial Tax Rate Likely to Break $40The council will vote on the tax classification for fiscal 2019 on Tuesday. Should the council approve, the commercial, industrial and personal property shift will go from 1.71 back to 1.73, where it had been for several years.  Lanesborough Tax Rate Going Up By $1.23The tax rate is increasing by $1.23 per $1,000 of assessed property valued. The town is continuing with a single tax rate and that is resulting in an increase to the tax rate to $22.63 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the average single-family home, the increase will be $350.99 per year. The rate is set after town meeting approved a budget in the spring and the numbers shake out by the fall.  Pittsfield Council Approves Tax Rate CutTax cuts make for more agreeable City Council meetings. The council easily approved a plan to lower property taxes across the board - both on the average bill and on the rate.  Tyer Proposes Property Tax Rate CutDo you remember where you were in 1993? That's the question Mayor Linda Tyer asked in her office Wednesday morning. Because 1993 was the last time the tax bill for the average single-family home in Pittsfield decreased. It was 2007 when the city's tax rate had declined from the previous year. |
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