Pittsfield Council to See $205M FY24 Budget Proposal

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2024 is almost $17,000,000, or 8.9 percent higher, than the previous year at  $188,822,018.

On Tuesday's City Council meeting agenda is an order to raise and appropriate a total of $205,634,497 for the FY24 budget beginning July 1. This begins the council's process of departmental spending deliberations with a budget adoption before the new fiscal year begins.

Mayor Linda Tyer is proposing the use of $1 million in free cash to lower the tax rate. 

The total budget also an enterprise total of $18,195,586, with $6,199,738 for DPU water treatment, $1,002,156 for sewer, and $10,993,692 for DPU wastewater.

The operating budget includes $255,797 for the mayor's office, $14.364,673 for the Police Department, $11,095, 563 for the department of public services, and $60,092,255 in unclassified.

Last week, the School Committee approved a $78,088,016 FY24 budget that was reduced by $220,000 after a conversation with the mayor. With school choice and Richmond tuition funds, the total is $78,558,016.

Reductions include the $100,000 line item to replace Chromebook computers, $22,000 from the Career Technical Education supplies, $5,000 from the curriculum and instruction account, and the relocation of a $95,000 social emotional learning coordinator to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds.

The school budget is a $5,689,754 increase from last year's appropriation of $72,398,262 with more than 85 percent of the increase allocated for special education instruction and support, Career Technical Education/career pathways, and contractual obligations.

Before the final approval, Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick halted the council's vote on the $189 million fiscal 2023 budget with a charter objection, voiding all of the recommended amendments that were made to the proposal over four nights of deliberations.  

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.