iBerkshires.com - The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.

Pittsfield Community Preservation Panel Has $643K Budget For FY22

September 19, 2021 | 12:28PM

The city will be working with about $643,000 in Community Preservation Act funds in fiscal 2022 for projects that include historical preservation, open space and outdoor recreation, and affordable housing.

Adams Shifts Tax Burden More to Business Side

September 16, 2021 | 04:11AM

The board on Wednesday voted for a shift of 20 percent more to the commercial side. This sets the residential rate at $21.03 per $1,000 evaluation, down 23 cents from last year, and commercial rate at $26.34, up $1.10.

Williamstown's Tax Bill Up, Tax Rate Down

September 02, 2021 | 04:03AM

That is because property valuations rose enough in calendar year 2020 to allow the town to raise the increased money it needs for fiscal year 2022 without raising the tax rate, principal assessor Chris Lamarre told elected officials on Monday night.

North Adams Passes Budget for Fiscal 2022

June 23, 2021 | 04:11AM

The City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to approve a $42 million budget for fiscal 2022, with only Council President Jason LaForest voting no.

North Adams Council to Talk Sewer, Fiscal 2022 Budget

June 22, 2021 | 01:45AM

Residents on Woodlawn Avenue are asking the city to defray some of the costs in connecting several homes along the street to the city's sewer system.

North Adams Increasing Waste Disposal Prices

June 17, 2021 | 05:14PM

Residents will see a price hike in transfer station bags of 25 to 50 cents beginning in July and a scale rate jump of about 75 cents per pound. This is expected to cost the average family of four about $53 more a year to dispose of their trash.

North Adams School Committee OKs Funds for School Study, Passes Budget

June 15, 2021 | 04:03AM

The School Committee on Monday authorized the use of $300,000 from the school choice account to fund a feasibility study for Brayton School.

North Adams $42M Draft 2022 Budget Includes New Positions

June 09, 2021 | 03:59AM

The City Council on Tuesday reviewed a $42 million spending plan for fiscal 2022 that represents a 3.5 percent increase over this year.

Pittsfield City Council Approves $179M Budget for FY22

June 09, 2021 | 12:10AM

The City Council approved both the operating and capital budget on Tuesday in a swift meeting that adjourned at 7 p.m.

Pittsfield Councils Gives Preliminary OK to $179M Operating Budget

June 08, 2021 | 02:39AM

On the fifth and final day of preliminary budget hearings last week, the City Council passed four departmental budgets without amendments and passed a fiscal 2022 operating budget of $179,205,963, which was amended from the originally proposed $179,410,963.

Budget Day 4 Pittsfield: Police Budget Reduced by $205,000

June 02, 2021 | 05:16PM

Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon motioned for seven amendments to the Police Department budget. Two of which were passed, reducing $15,000 from the contractual allowances line item and $190,000 from the patrol officers' allotment.

Cheshire Using More Free Cash Than Expected to Balance Budget

May 28, 2021 | 12:44AM

Interim Town Administrator Mark Webber told the Selectmen on Tuesday that after further calculations, the town would need to use $300,000 from free cash to keep the budget under the levy limit instead of the programmed $100,000.

Pittsfield City Council OKs $67M School District Budget Appropriation

May 25, 2021 | 05:33PM

The City Council on Monday night passed a $67,311,700 appropriation for the fiscal 2022 school budget in an 8-1 vote with only Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio opposed.

Berkshire Planning Commission Approves $4.5M FY22 Budget

May 25, 2021 | 01:08AM

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on Thursday approved a $4,493,869 fiscal year 2022 budget without debate.

Pittsfield Council Moves 10 Department Budgets Forward

May 24, 2021 | 02:23AM

The City Council preliminarily approved 10 departmental budgets totaling $5,811,456 on Wednesday that included the creation of an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with a half-year budget of about $100,000.

Pittsfield City Council Begins Review of $162M Fiscal 2022 Budget

May 18, 2021 | 04:05AM

The City Council on Monday began the review of the proposed $162 million fiscal 2022 budget, giving preliminary approval to seven departments' spending in just over an hour.

North Adams FY22 School Budget Draft Leans on Federal Funding

May 06, 2021 | 01:12AM

The draft plan presented to the School Committee on Tuesday is also level-funded and includes no cutbacks. The appropriation would be the same as this year: $17,769,074.

Pittsfield Planning Graduations; School Committee OKs $68M Budget

April 29, 2021 | 02:30AM

With the state set to relax COVID-19 restrictions in May, this year's class will get the traditional ceremonial send off albeit with some modifications.

North Adams Considering New Public Safety Positions

April 27, 2021 | 02:26AM

Mayor Thomas Bernard presented the $5.5 million public safety budget to the Finance Committee last week as it continued its review of the proposed spending plan.

North Adams Finance Committee Reviews General Govt Budget

April 21, 2021 | 02:13AM

The General Government budget is up 12 percent, or $156,083, over this year's budget of $1,245,525. Bernard reminded the committee that this year's budget line had been reduced by moving some items to reserve accounts to balance the full budget for what was expected to be a tough fiscal year because of the pandemic.