Election 2009: Alcombright Discusses Taxes

02:31PM / Monday, September 14, 2009Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayoral candidate Dick Alcombright discusses property tax increases:

I have heard that if I am elected I will raise taxes. I ask you to remember that I am a homeowner and taxpayer in this city and have been for over 30 years. I don't like property tax increases any more than you do. The fact remains that property taxes in this city have increased each and every year since 2005 and maybe beyond that.

These records are available on the Department of Revenue Web site. Additionally, taxes in North Adams according to one Department of Revenue source indicate that taxes (on average) have increased over the past five years a total of 23 percent as compared to the state average of 19 percent. Additionally, Adams, Williamstown and Pittsfield were all at or below the state average.

Why would the fact that I might have to increase taxes to maintain city services be any different from the fact that Mayor Barrett has done it every year? Mayor Barrett has increased property taxes even in years when state aid has been increased. Please feel free to contact my campaign headquarters for the facts and figures on this. It's all a matter of public record and available on the Department of Revenue Web site. When state aid is drastically reduced, as it has been this year and will likely be next year, there are very few options for local governments.

My preference would be to grow the local economy by attracting businesses and development to increase the tax base. This is the only way to slow the reliance on property tax and our ever increasing dependency on state aid.

Until we are able to achieve those goals, property taxes are likely to increase, as they have every year, unless local services are cut. Unfortunately, for the last several years of the current administration property taxes have not only increased, but local services have decreased. I do not consider that to be an acceptable solution. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on my position. I will be happy to discuss it with you in detail.

Together We Will Succeed

Contact Alcombright at info@AlcombrightForMayor.com, 413-663-5057 or AlcombrightForMayor.com.

Submitted by the Campaign to Elect Dick Alcombright for Mayor

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Northern Berkshire United Way: War and Peace

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:38PM / Saturday, February 28, 2026

Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, we will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its successes and challenges during the war years.

The Community Chest started the decade on the upswing but ended with a decline in fundraising. A bright spot was its establishment of new agencies to help the citizens of North Adams and Clarksburg.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Community Chest ended its first decade on an upswing, even as the clouds were darkening over Europe.

But what goes up, must eventually come down.

The 1940 campaign drive again set a goal of $39,600 and volunteers toted up $23,000 at the first meeting.

James Hunter Machine was the first to attain 100 percent enrollment with annual gift of $6.13 per person for a total of $1,275. Some 200 businesses and organizations hit their red feather level of 100 percent, including all of the schools as well as State Teachers College.

The litany of businesses and organizations included long-gone establishments such as Simmons Funeral Home, Spofford Motors, McCann Ice Cream Co., C.H. Cutting, West End Market, Apothecary Hall, Florini's Italian Garden, and Pizzi's, along with still existing enterprises like Whitney's Beverage Shop, Cascade Paper and Mount Williams Greenhouse.

The now annual dinner was served by the Ladies Aid Society of First Congregational at the YMCA, and attendees were entertained by singers from the Advent Christian Church, directed by the Rev. Martin Ball and accompanied by his wife on the piano. "Assisting in useful capacities" were YMCA junior members Howard Goodermote, Roy Modlinger, Fred Myers, Norman Remillard, George Grenier, Wallace Konopka and Anthony Pessolano.

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