 Lanesborough Officials Clarify Relationship with Firemen's AssociationTown officials had plenty of questions for the Lanesborough Volunteer Firemen's Association Inc. as they prepare a budget for fiscal 2027. Williamstown Fin Comm Sets Water, Sewer HikesThat water rate increase and another 5 percent hike in FY28, in conjunction with use of reserves from the water department, will enable the town to address two capital projects — the replacement of a well and the replacement of customers' water meters — without needing to borrow for either project. Mount Greylock School Committee Takes Another Look at FY27 BudgetThe Mount Greylock School Committee on Tuesday decided to bring a fiscal year 2027 budget to Thursday's public hearing that maintains level services while seeking double-digit percentage increases in the assessments to each of the district's member towns. $87.2M Budget Proposed for Pittsfield Schools in FY27The proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for Pittsfield schools is a modest .4 percent increase from the previous year. CBRSD Makes Cuts to Lower Town AssessmentsSchool officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state." Dalton Fire Has Preliminary Budget DiscussionsThe Fire District has started preliminary discussions on its fiscal 2027 budget.  North County Biosolid Waste Costs Jumping Up in Fiscal Year 2027Sewage disposal fees for North Adams, Clarksburg and Williamstown residents are set to rise 17 percent in fiscal year 2027 because of the cost of compost disposal incurred by the Hoosac Water Quality District. Pittsfield Schools Hold Budget HearingThe administration will present a draft fiscal year 2027 budget on March 11, and has been focused on equitably distributing resources based on need while bridging a $4 million funding gap without layoffs. Cheshire Shifts Focus From Merger to Improving Police DepartmentThe proposed budget would bring general expenses, and officers and the chief's salaries to align with area police departments. Lanesborough Officials Begin Budget DeliberationsThe Select Board and Finance Committee last week began a detailed look at the needs for the fiscal 2027 budget from the Police, Fire and Library departments. North Adams School Budget Up 3.5%The School Department is presenting a fiscal 2027 draft budget of $22 million, up 3.5 percent over this year.  CBRSD Member Towns Will See Higher AssessmentsDespite budget cuts made by Central Berkshire Regional School District, its seven member towns can still anticipate higher assessments. Williamstown Fin Comm Hears from Police Department, LibraryPolice Chief Michael Ziemba last week explained to the Finance Committee why an additional full-time officer needs to be added to the fiscal year 2027 budget. Mount Greylock Schools Draft Budget Sees Double-Digit Percentage Hikes for TownsThe committee held a special meeting with a single item on the agenda: the draft FY27 budget prepared by the administration. Dalton Budget May Avoid Layoffs, Cuts to ServicesThe Select Board tentatively approved an operating budget of $11,786,298, a 8.2 percent or $892,704 increase from fiscal year 2026. Lanesborough Selects Assistant Building InspectorThe Select Board appointed an assistant building director on Wednesday. Pittsfield Schools Plan Another Difficult Budget Year Sans LayoffsThe Pittsfield Public Schools are seeing the effects of inflation on the fiscal year 2027 budget, and want to close the gap in funding without layoffs. Cheshire Interim Chief Submits Increased Budget ProposalGarner, who retired as chief in 2022 and stepped in temporarily last fall, also told the Select Board last week that he has been dealing with overdue payments related to police details so as not to lose the funds. Williamstown Finance Committee Begins FY27 Budget ReviewTown meeting will have the levy capacity to approve the FY27 budget as drafted and presented by the town manager on Wednesday, partly because the spending plan for the year that begins on July 1 includes just one noteworthy increase in discretionary municipal spending. NBSU Gives Clarksburg Year's Budget ReliefThe North Berkshire School Union voted to give member town Clarksburg a financial breather — at least for fiscal 2027. Mount Greylock School Committee Hears Budget Requests, PressuresThe Mount Greylock Regional School Committee Thursday heard the final rounds of fiscal year 2027 budget requests and heard why those — or any — discretionary increases in spending will be difficult in the year that begins July 1.  Williamstown Fire District Readying Fiscal 2027 BudgetThe Fire District is projecting a 3.18 percent increase in its operating budget for fiscal year 2027, according to documents shared with the Prudential Committee and its Finance Committee. CBRSD Budget Decreases; Dalton Assessment HighThe Central Berkshire Regional School District has decreased its initial operating projections from nearly 10 percent down to 4.9 percent, but the Dalton's budget is still strained because of its high assessment. Dalton Finance to Discuss Budget Freeze, CBRSD WednesdayThe Finance Committee will be reviewing whether a budget freeze is necessary, considering ongoing financial concerns. Dalton Budget 'Worse-Case Scenario' Could Mean Staffing CutsIn the worst-case scenario, the town could be forced to reduce staff if projected increases in the school budget, health insurance, and other uncontrollable costs occur. |
