 Williamstown Town Manager: 'Less Pessimism' About State FundingJason Hoch reported to the Select Board that the town's free cash as of July 1, 2020, was certified by the Department of Revenue last week, effectively closing the books on fiscal year 2020.  Clarksburg Anticipates Property Tax Rate to Drop by $2Property owners got an early Christmas present this week in the form of unanticipated state revenues that are expected to significantly drop the tax rate.  Lanesborough Sets Tax Rate for Fiscal 2021The average homeowner will see their tax rate drop slightly but their tax bill will rise about $154 for fiscal 2021.  Hotels, Meals Tax in Williamstown Shows Impact of PandemicTown Manager Jason Hoch reported those statistics to the Select Board on Monday night to demonstrate how much the local economy has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Budget Amendment Includes Increase For Rural SchoolsThe Rural School Aid grant program helps school districts with low population densities and lower-than-average incomes address fiscal challenges and take steps to improve efficiency.  Adams Residential Tax Rate Up 3 PercentThe board members approved a 115 percent split that represents a 74 cent increase on the residential side and a 90 increase on the commercial side of the tax rate at Wednesday's tax classification hearing.  Governor Presents $45.5B Budget to For Fiscal 2021The budget is a 3.8 percent increase over last year and is built on an estimated $27.6 billion in revenue, down $3.8 billion from the agreed-upon number in January. It will also use about a third of the state's rainy day fund at $1.35 billion. Should revenues come in higher, the amount taken from the stabilization account will drop.  Cheshire Stays With Single Tax RateThe Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted to stay with a single property tax rate for fiscal 2021.  North Adams Council Passes $41M Budget for Fiscal 2021The total amount to be raised is $40,939,756, up $134,218, or 0.33 percent, from last year. Some $11,369.776 has already been spent over the past three months through continuing appropriations caused by delays in the state budget because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.  Pittsfield City Council Passes Capital Budget for FY21The council accepted an order from the mayor Tuesday to borrow an aggregate a sum not exceeding $8,470,000 for General Fund Capital Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2021 to address various city projects.  North Adams Finance Committee Recommends $41M BudgetA budget of $40,939,756 was presented to the Finance Committee over two meetings that stands at $134,218, or 0.33 percent, more than last year.  Cheshire Would See Rise in Tax Rate With 2021 Budget ProposalThe Finance Committee recommended using $376,000 in free cash to offset the tax increase necessitated by the town's rising costs. The Selectmen had decided to reduce last year's offset number from $140,000 to $110,000.  Cheshire Selectmen Planning for Post-Employment CostsThe Board of Selectmen took a look at the town's situation Tuesday night with help from Treasurer/Tax Collector Rebecca Herzog and the news, like many other Massachusetts towns, was not encouraging.  Cheshire Selectmen Eye Salary Increases in FY21 BudgetAside from reviewing the Board of Health and Council on Aging operating budgets, the board discussed at length what some members see as stagnant salaries for many town positions.  Williamstown Proposed FY21 Budget Adjusted in Light of PandemicBut Jason Hoch told the Select Board on Monday that the new fiscal 2021 spending plan, "allows us to maintain operations and a consistent level of service without disruption."  North Adams Council OKs July Spending, Debates City Hall JobThe $3,831,954 continuing appropriation is the first as the city shifts to a month-by-month financial plan until the Legislature can pass a fiscal 2021 budget.  North Adams School Committee Votes to Keep Adjustment CounselorThe committee OK'd a level-funded budget of $17,769,075 on a vote of 5-2 with members Tara Jacobs and Ian Bergeron voting against because of concerns that the budget did not address what they felt were deficiencies in the arts and special education.  Pittsfield City Council Passes $170M Fiscal 2021 BudgetThe City Council has approved the entire fiscal 2021 budget of $169,437,880, including a $64.4 million school budget it had been reluctant to OK.  North Adams Moving Forward on Level-Funded BudgetThis week, the news isn't quite so awful with the state committed to level-funding aid through at least the first two months of fiscal 2021. But the district isn't out of the woods yet, Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Tuesday.  Pittsfield Schools Leadership Hopeful For Budget ApprovalSuperintendent Jason Mccandless told the School Committee on Wednesday that he is hoping the contentious $64.4 million school budget clears the City Council's final vote but a 1/12th budget is being prepared.  Clarksburg Town Meeting Passes $4.6M Budget, OKs Truck PurchaseThe meeting, held on the lawn of the Senior Center because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, swiftly approved a town budget of $4,565,710 and the purchase of a new Department of Public Works truck for $250,000.  Clarksburg Town Meeting to Decide Budget, Truck PurchaseTown meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center at 712 West Cross Road. The meeting will be set up in the parking lot and there will be provisions for keep people separate because of the pandemic; voters are encouraged to bring their own chairs and umbrellas.  North Adams Will Take 2021 Budget Month by MonthMayor Thomas Bernard had initially presented a "placeholder" budget that is basically level funded to this year's rather than attempting a month-by-month spending plan.  Pittsfield School Committee Make No Changes to BudgetLast week, the City Council had preliminarily approved the entire fiscal 2021 budget except for the $64.4 million school plan that they tossed back to the School Committee for another look. Councilors had expressed concern that the school budget was too tight.  Adams Sets First Month's Budget With Fiscal Restraint The HopeJust like its partner in the Hoosac Valley Regional School District, Cheshire, and the school district itself, Adams will wait for definitive state aid numbers from Boston before approving a hard budget. The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned wide speculation of revenue shortfalls in the commonwealth. |
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