Letter: Macksey for Mayor: The Logical Choice

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To the Editor:

I would like to encourage the residents of North Adams to vote for Jennifer Macksey for mayor of the city. She has been training and preparing for this job throughout her professional career.

Jennifer worked at North Adams City Hall for 16 years going from billing clerk to tax collector, treasurer and chief financial officer, each time being promoted along the way because of her hard work, intelligence, and integrity. She knows how to make and meet budgets, negotiate contracts and deal with the many issues facing the city's operating departments.

After eight years in North Adam's highest financial position, she came to MCLA as director of student accounts responsible for the accounting, receipt, and reporting of millions received annually in revenues from fees, grants, loans, tuition and financial aid sources. Jennifer went on to the next challenge being selected as executive vice president of Southern Vermont College in a national search where she managed all the College departments in tandem with the President. She currently serves as assistant superintendent of the Northern Berkshire School Union administering the finances of several local school districts.

Jennifer has always kept a finger on the pulse of the community and has worked with the idea that someday she would run for Mayor. She has effectively managed large numbers of staff, and efficiently handled significant sums of money. he is a lifelong resident of North Adams and knows the city. She is practical, intelligent, collaborative and has a wonderful view of life. one of her greatest assets is to put in whatever time and effort is necessary to accomplish the goals she sets for herself. She is a strong, personable, dynamic woman who will serve the residents of North Adams well.

Gerald Desmarais
North Adams, Mass. 

Gerald Desmarais retired as treasurer for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

 

 

 


Tags: election 2021,   letters to the editor,   municipal election,   


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North Adams Council Votes $55M Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The $55 million fiscal 2027 budget approved by the City Council on Tuesday had been cut by $298,000, as of Monday.
 
The proposed fiscal 2027 spending plan is $54,964,135.99, up 5 percent over this year. The Finance Committee gave a final recommendation of the draft on Monday.
 
Of the amount approved, nearly $24 million comes from state aid (minus $4.5 million in charges), $9.5 million from local receipts, and $25 million through taxation. 
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the Finance Committee, as it was giving its final look at the plan, that she'd made cuts on previously recommended budget lines. The budget has been under review for several weeks. 
 
"We were trending at $1.8 million that we were closing the gap on, and then it became evident that we couldn't push any more really on local receipts," she said. "The team really took a deep dive into what can we really survive without. ... I feel like we, as an administration, tightened up a lot, but we are trying to keep the budget in balance."
 
The reductions, use of $663,000 in reserves and accounts sitting outside the general fund, will be used to close the gap, along with an anticipated $1.1 million more in local receipts.
 
"We have the reserve, we should use it. It's hard to both on the city side and on the school side, you know, to say to a taxpayer, your taxes are going to go up, we have spread out this $2 million and we're sitting on a savings account for $2 million right?" the mayor said.
 
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