Pittsfield City Council Gives Preliminary OK to 9 Department Budgets
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On 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.
The councilors recommended that $1,000 be added to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program's $106,000 budget for volunteer recognition night, a motion that was made by Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick.
The proposed municipal operating budget is $99,900,752 and the proposed public school budget is $72,398,262, totaling a municipal operating budget of $172,299,014.
With the water and sewer enterprise line, the total budget is $188,589,144, which Tyer requested to raise and appropriate at the City Council meeting earlier this month.
The city's excess levy capacity is $2,536,049.
Mayor Linda Tyer's order to appropriate $750,000 from certified free cash to reduce the tax rate was not supported, as the council recommended that $1 million be used.
The motion was made by Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio and passed 6-4 with President Peter Marchetti, Councilors at Large Earl Persip III and Peter White, and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi in opposition. Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Sherman was absent.
"I was hoping that we would curtail off of last year and see at least a million dollars put forth this year once again with all the increases that gave gone up through the years," Maffuccio said.
Veteran Services
The budget of $915,458 was passed as presented. It is $92,346, or 9.16 percent less than the previous year.
Persip queried Director John Herrera about the line item for flags and grave markers, which is $2,400 more than the previous year. He observed that there is about $12,000 left in that budget and that Herrera revised it from $8,000 to $18,000 at some point, asking why there was such a big jump.
Herrera explained that he made a $10,000 request for a GIS-type unit to identify veterans' graves in the city's cemeteries.
"We are going to go through there and start mapping and plotting our cemeteries, number one to identify all the veterans' cemeteries, which will make it easier to find leading up to Memorial Day to plan for markers and the flags there," he explained.
"But also to work with the cemeteries so they can update their websites so a person can go to the website for St. Joseph, for example, type in a deceased loved one's name and find him or her in a heartbeat."
|
Account Name |
2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval |
| Veterans Agent | $52,061 | $51,102 | $53,657 | $55,312 | $59,460 |
| Administrative Assistant | $27,112 | $28,165 | $33,243 | $33,742 | $34,248 |
| Equipment Maintenance | $0 | $0 | $842 | $1,400 | $1,500 |
| Rental Expense | $5,900 | $6,500 | $6,500 | $6,500 | $6,500 |
| Flags | $1,500 | $2,000 | $8,600 | $8,600 | $11,000 |
| Supplies | $2,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Program Expense | $962,250 | $982,457 | $900,000 | $900,000 | $800,000 |
| Award and Declarations | $250 | $250 | $300 | $250 | $250 |
| Total | $1,051,073 | $1,072,474 | $1,005,650 | $1,007,804 | $915,458 |
RSVP
The budget of $106,142 was passed with a recommendation that the $2,202 line item for volunteer recognition is increased by $1,000.
It is $9,718, or a 10.08 percent increase from the previous year.
Kronick said Director Lisa Torey told him that the department could use more funds for recognition night. She said the additional monies could be used to host more recognition events in the RSVP office and for the department to buy more items to thank volunteers such as T-shirts, water bottles, and pens.
The event is scheduled for October of this year and there are currently 280 active volunteers.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval | ||
| Director of RSVP | $36,486 | $36,678 | $37,944 | $40,235 | $44,290 | ||
| Volunteer Coordinator | $14,685 | $21,915 | $22,346 | $24,974 | $27,491 | ||
| Administrative Assistant | $19,703 | $23,187 | $23,740 | $25,500 | $28,070 | ||
| Membership and Dues | $400 | $400 | $0 | $50 | $55 | ||
| Postage | $500 | $600 | $750 | $750 | $826 | ||
| Staff Training | $300 | $300 | $0 | $250 | $275 | ||
| Telephone | $6 | $6 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| Supplies | $1,500 | $1,400 | $0 | $1,000 | $1,101 | ||
| Staff Travel | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
| Volunteer Recognition | $2,500 | $2,500 | $0 | $2,000 | $2,202 | ||
| Equipment and Copier Lease | $1,981 | $1,981 | $1,665 | $1,665 | $1,833 | ||
| Total | $79,061 | $89,967 | $86,445 | $96,424 | $106,142 |
Fire Department
The budget of $9,138,800 was passed as presented. It is a $357,366, or 4.07 percent, increase from the previous year.
The largest line item increase is for firefighters, which went up by about $222,000.
Marchetti asked Chief Thomas Sammons if the department is currently fully staffed.
The chief reported that the department is as fully staffed as it can be with firefighters on long-term leaves. The department just hired a handful of firefighters that will soon start at the in-house academy, be on the floor for the summer season, and go back to the state academy in the fall.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval |
| Fire Chief | $103,371 | $98,500 | $114,800 | $121,824 | $130,961 |
| Deputy Fire Chiefs | $396,000 | $405,279 | $424,663 | $435,280 | $455,000 |
| Fire Captains | $897,000 | $1,134,882 | $1,134,882 | $1,163,254 | $1,193,519 |
| Fire Lieutenants | $1,088,855 | $1,266,635 | $1,266,635 | $1,298,300 | $1,329,266 |
| Firefighters | $3,716,000 | $4,298,751 | $4,298,751 | $4,494,219 | $4,716,103 |
| Head Clerk | $33,340 | $35,288 | $35,288 | $37,465 | $34,297 |
| Master Mechanic | $72,975 | $73,876 | $75,254 | $76,759 | $80,497 |
| Principal Clerk | $32,846 | $28,821 | $28,821 | $30,355 | $32,654 |
| Office Manager | $42,000 | $43,864 | $43,864 | $44,978 | $59,533 |
| Emergency Apparatus Staffing | $30,000 | $35,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Emergency Manning | $400,000 | $375,000 | $375,000 | $450,000 | $450,000 |
| Assuming Additional Response | $25,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Uniforms | $120,000 | $122,000 | $122,000 | $122,000 | $125,000 |
| Maintenance General | $13,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | $200,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $230,000 |
| Medical Maintenance | $13,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| Education and Training | $20,000 | $22,000 | $22,000 | $22,000 | $25,000 |
| Special Opts Training | $35,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 | ||
| Arson Investigation | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Supplies | $8,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Equipment | $30,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 |
| Equipment Replacement | $35,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| CAD License/Maint/Admin Fees | $53,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $55,000 |
| Total | $7,339,387 | $8,389,896 | $8,426,958 | $8,781,434 | $9,138,800 |
Emergency Management
The $26,600 budget was approved with no discussion. It is a mere $200 or 0.76 percent increase from the previous year due to the annual cost of the city's emergency notification system Code Red increasing.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval | ||
| Education and Training | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | ||
| Code Red | $23,000 | $23,000 | $23,000 | $23,000 | $23,200 | ||
| Supplies | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | ||
| Emergency Operating Center | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,800 | ||
| Total | $26,400 |
$26,400 |
$26,400 | $26,400 | $26,600 |
Worker's Compensation
The budget of $650,000 was passed with little discussion. It has experienced no change from the previous year.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval |
| Compensation Payments | $300,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 |
| Medical Payments | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 |
| Injured on Duty - Police and Fire | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Total | $675,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 |
Finance and Administration
The budget of $1,345,333 was passed as presented with little discussion. It is a $97,112, or a 7.78 increase from the previous year.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval | ||
| City Accountant | $62,999 | $67,575 | $69,264 | $73,143 | $78,628 | ||
| Administrative Assistant | $33,055 | $33,538 | $17,720 | $33,741 | $35,189 | ||
| Chief Assessor | $80,185 | $89,252 | |||||
| Assessors | $193,213 | $197,587 | $203,815 | $71,050 | $76,379 | ||
| Treasurer | $88,095 | $91,295 | $93,577 | $98,818 | $106,229 | ||
| Tax Collector | $64,574 | $66,919 | $68,592 | $72,078 | $77,484 | ||
| Assistant Treasurer | $43,255 | $46,246 | $47,909 | $49,965 | $52,109 | ||
| Assistant Tax Collector | $45,104 | $47,399 | $25,274 | $43,627 | $45,499 | ||
| Purchasing Agent | $66,188 | $68,592 | $69,963 | $73,518 | $79,032 | ||
| Deputy Purchasing Agent | $35,580 | $38,231 | $39,004 | $44,579 | $47,922 | ||
| Head Clerk | $33,010 | $34,035 | $35,096 | $36,602 | $33,331 | ||
| Account Clerk-Assessor | $33,055 | $33,538 | $34,383 | $43,627 | $45,499 | ||
| Buyer | $0 | $30,157 | $30,551 | $36,833 | $39,595 | ||
| Payroll Specialist | $35,925 | $38,701 | $39,910 | $41,622 | $43,408 | ||
| Junior Accountant | $46,230 | $48,351 | $50,580 | $51,339 | $52,109 | ||
| Benefits Analyst | $42,611 | $43,367 | $44,484 | $45,151 | $52,109 | ||
| Principal Clerk Cashiers | $59,842 | $59,233 | $61,004 | $64,556 | $68,177 | ||
| Senior Account Clerks - Treasurer | - | $28,495 | $29,219 | $30,472 | $36,157 | ||
| Senior Account Clerks | $98,859 | $63,462 | $65,231 | $59,315 | $78,475 | ||
| Tax Collection Services | $60,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | ||
| Equipment Maintenance | $15,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Revaluation | $76,000 | $79,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | $212,624 | ||
| Legal Ads and Subscription | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | ||
| Supplies | $26,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Total | $1,168,595 | $1,223,721 | $1,223,576 | $1,248,221 | $1,462,207 |
The Finance & Admin budget had an error in the revaluation line that was brought to the council's attention during the third day of review and which has been updated here.
Information Technology
The budget of $958,501 was passed as presented. It is a $143,955, or 17.67 percent increase from the previous year.
Persip queried Director Michael Steben on the computing licensing support line item that has increased by more than $122,000. Steben attributed the increase to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the department to adapt to remote working and the need for cyber security.
After doing some research, he reported that cyber attacks on average went up 50 percent from 2020 to 2021, and the most attacked markets are education and research followed by government.
Ransomware attacks are also a threat, which is where data is encrypted and the computer is made accessible and cannot be accessed by its owners until a ransom is paid.
The average cost of such attacks has reportedly increased by up to $2 million dollars.
"Attacks against government went up 1,885 percent between 2020 and 2021," Steben said.
"That's breathtaking and like any other organization with an IT presence we need to respond to what I would phrase as being nothing short of cyber terrorism, we are being attacked by hostile foreign governments, make no mistake, and we need to respond to that."
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval | ||
| IT Manager | $67,606 | $72,518 | $78,815 | $78,875 | $84,790 | ||
| IT Support Specialists II | - | $0 | $0 | $71,000 | $75,478 | ||
| Info Systems Specialists | $115,598 | $124,738 | $129,245 | $133,474 | $136,000 | ||
| Network Administrator | $125,005 | $125,287 | $129,002 | $126,611 | $130,000 | ||
| Computer Upgrade and Repair | $46,500 | $46,500 | $23,975 | $27,500 | $33,000 | ||
| Computer License/Support | $232,000 | $255,000 | $266,000 | $376,086 | $498,233 | ||
| Supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||
| Total | $587,709 | $625,043 | $625,037 | $814,546 | $958,501 |
Unclassifed
The $56,686,954 budget was passed as presented with Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren voting in opposition. It is a $2,849,829, or a 5.29 percent increase from the previous year.
Warren raised questions about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) administrative assistant that was recently added to the department.
He queried the city's authority to give an employee that is not on the compensation plan benefits and if the city could add other positions without the council's approval.
"I can add them but you'd have to fund them, the reason you didn't have to fund for this is because it's paid for by the grant," Tyer explained, adding that any other departmental administrative assistants would be included in the budget presentation.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval | ||
| 40U Hearings Officer | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||
| 40U Clerk | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | ||
| Crossing Guards | $25,375 | $25,375 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Scheduled Overtime | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | ||
| Insurance Medicare Coverage | $1,156,751 | $1,156,751 | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | ||
| Insurance Health | $25,025,000 | $26,425,000 | $26,750,000 | $25,300,000 | $27,500,000 | ||
| Insurance General | $1,293,740 | $1,425,000 | $1,600,000 | $1,837,869 | $1,970,000 | ||
| Insurance Group Life | $85,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 | ||
| Insurance Unemployment | $250,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | ||
| Retirement Contribution | $13,318,798 | $13,519,322 | $14,178,149 | $14,915,413 | $15,695,905 | ||
| Benefits Conversion | $400,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | ||
| Stipends | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | |||
| Animal Shelter Management Fee | $52,360 | $52,360 | $52,000 | $52,000 | $53,560 | ||
| Telephone and Internet | $125,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | ||
| City Audit | $95,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | ||
| Contractual Services | $133,350 | $133,350 | $133,350 | $133,350 | $165,000 | ||
| Medicaid Services | $60,000 | $60,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 | ||
| Seminars/Travel/Dues | $27,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Postage | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
| Bank Service Charges | $15,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 | $15,000 | ||
| Contingency | $245,000 | $235,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | ||
| Capital Expenditures | $375,000 | $550,000 | $100,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | ||
| Long-term Debt Principal | $7,889,695 | $5,590,000 | $5,924,120 | $5,960,573 | $5,960,573 | ||
| Long-term Debt Interest | $3,385,196 | $3,900,000 | $3,781,508 | $3,651,203 | $3,651,203 | ||
| Short-term Debt Interest | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | ||
| Debt Issuance Costs | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
| Allocation from Water | ($920,004) | ($920,004) | ($930,441) | ($845,253) | ($659,578) | ||
| Allocation from Sewer | ($963,322) | ($963,322) | ($1,009,310) | ($997,530) | ($906,709) | ||
| Total | $52,367,939 | $52,453,832 | $53,306,376 | $53,237,125 | $56,686,954 |
Council on Aging
The budget of $371,055 was passed with little conversation. It is a $29,855, or 8.75 percent increase from the previous year.
| Account Name | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | 2023 Approval |
| Director | $54,508 | $59,728 | $61,221 | $64,240 | $69,057 |
| Senior Clerk Typist | $32,709 | $33,282 | $34,251 | $34,898 | $34,115 |
| Admin Assistant/Supervisor | $25,233 | $25,675 | $28,084 | $34,895 | $37,513 |
| Soc Serv Tech/Custodian | $32,867 | $33,443 | $29,267 | $30,640 | $36,876 |
| Soc Serv Tech/Custodian (PT) | $25,967 | $26,422 | $28,240 | $34,546 | $38,090 |
| Program Assistant | $33,490 | $34,076 | $35,055 | $39,463 | $41,181 |
| Activities Leaders (PT) | $22,017 | $22,403 | $11,202 | $33,218 | $33,330 |
| Kitchen Coordinator | $23,449 | $23,860 | $23,860 | $15,600 | $18,093 |
| Temp. Labor | $3,484 | $3,485 | $3,485 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Equipment Maintenance | $6,000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $7,656 |
| Building Maintenance | $13,400 | $14,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $17,691 |
| Printing | $888 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,179 |
| Supplies | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,948 |
| Program Expense | $23,900 | $23,900 | $23,900 | $23,900 | $28,325 |
| Total | $300,414 | $310,074 | $302,365 | $341,200 | $371,055 |
The complete Pittsfield fiscal 2023 budget as presented can be found in pdf form here.
Tags: fiscal 2023, pittsfield_budget,
