 North Adams Council OKs $2M in Free Cash TransfersThe City Council on Tuesday approved the use of nearly $2 million in free cash to reserves and to clean up some accounts in deficit. Pittsfield Local Receipts Trending High, Cannabis Revenues DroppingOf the estimated $800,000 in cannabis tax, $332,491 was collected by the end of the second quarter, representing 41.6 percent.  Lanesborough Tax Bills to Rise From Increased Property ValuesThe value of an average single-family home increased to $300,705, up by $39,405 compared to the average value last year. The total town value grew 14.6 percent to $508,755,124, an increase of just over $55 million from last year.  Pittsfield Tax Rate Drops, Tax Bills Rise for Fiscal 2023The residential rate for fiscal 2023 is $18.32 per $1,000 of valuation and the commercial, industrial, and personal property rate of $39.21. North Adams Council Pauses Tax Rate DecisionThe councilors, however, described the jump from last year's 1.68 to the max shift as "whiplash," especially after spending years trying to gradually shift toward residential to find some equity between the rates. Williamstown Sets Single Tax Rate for FY23The average property owner will see a 4.4 percent rise in their property tax in the current fiscal year according to numbers presented by Town Assessor Chris Lamarre. Williamstown's FY23 Tax Levy Hiked to Pay for WPD SettlementThe additional quarter million dollars to be raised through property taxes is over and above the appropriations approved by the annual town meeting last month.  Pittsfield Council's Budget Recommendations Survive Charter ObjectionWith the amendments, the budget totals $188,822,018.  North Adams OKs $45M Budget for Fiscal 2023The spending plan of $44,536,735 is up 5.08 percent over this year, or about $2.15 million.  Two Charter Objections Called at Pittsfield City Council Meeting, One for the FY23 BudgetTuesday'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 BudgetThe 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 BudgetsOn 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 BudgetsOn 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. Adams Selectmen, Finance Committee OK 2022 Town Meeting WarrantThe Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee have approved the 26 warrant articles to be put forward at the June 21 annual town meeting.  Pittsfield Council Begins Review of Fiscal 2023 BudgetThe 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.  North Adams School Committee OKs $19M Budget for Fiscal 2023The School Committee on Tuesday approved a fiscal 2023 budget of $18,757,788, an increase of 5.56 percent over this year. Tyer Proposes $189M Pittsfield Budget, Up $10MMayor 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. Clarksburg FinCom Recommends $4.9M Budget, Use of Stabilization FundsNormally, town meeting would be asked to use free cash to lower the tax rate but, at the moment, the town has no free cash. Fiscal 2022 has not yet been certified and is not likely to be certified by the state before the annual town meeting on June 1. Advisory Board Passes BRTA Service ChangesBerkshire Regional Transit Authority service changes for the upcoming fiscal year were approved at Thursday's advisory board meeting. Pignatelli Secures Funding for Four Nonprofits in Fiscal 2023 BudgetPignatelli secured $75,000 for Community Access to the Arts, $75,000 for Greenagers Inc., $75,000 for Volunteers in Medicine and $35,000 for the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. Adams Officials Recommend $16.9M FY2023 BudgetThe two boards approved the final number on Thursday after reviewing minor adjustments with Town Accountant Crystal Wojcik and Town Administrator Jay Green. The budget is a 4.68 percent increase over the previous fiscal year's budget. Pittsfield School Committee OKs $72M Fiscal 2023 BudgetThe 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. North Adams School Budget Adds in Music InstructionThe decrease in instrumental instruction in the elementary schools had raised concerns at the Finance and Facilities subcommittee. Member Tara Jacobs, in particular, had pointed out that the School Committee's position had been that music instruction would be restored once the pandemic had receded. Cheshire Selectmen, Finance Committee Review FY23 BudgetThe major goal for the coming fiscal year is to use less free cash, which was discussed at multiple points during the meeting while analyzing different line items. The panels mulled an informal goal of about $150,000 in free cash usage. |
