North Adams Finance Committee Begins Fiscal 2024 Budget Review
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee last week began review of the fiscal 2024 budget presented by Mayor Jennifer Macksey, voting to recommend the School Department and General Government spending plans and compensation plan.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Administrative officer | $72,598 | $71,201 | $72,625 |
| Human Resources Director | $31,754 | ||
| Total | $72,598 | $71,201 | $104,379 |
Assessor
The main increase is in outside inspection services, which is $43,000 of the expense line, for two separate services. Mayflower Valuations provides annual sales and utilities' personal property analysis. It will also begin the 10-year citywide re-evaluation at a cost of $28,000 for the next three years. The salaries reflects changes in who occupies the posts and the two part-time members are paid $160 a month.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Assessor | $55,046 | $49,883 | $50,881 |
| Office Manager | $35,111 | $32,853 | $34,267 |
| Green Community Coordinator | $3,800 | $0 | $0 |
| Part-time member | $3,600 | $3,600 | $3,840 |
| Expenses | $21,675 | $20,350 | $47,900 |
| Total | $120,632 | $106,686 | $136,888 |
Auditor
The increases in expenses reflect the contract with an outside auditor. The city is still seeking to fill the assistant auditor and has kept it in the budget.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Auditor | $55,226 | $56,054 | $57,994 |
| Assistant Auditor | $18,000 | $19,760 | $20,155 |
| Expenses | $26,000 | $27,400 | $32,100 |
| Total | $99,226 | $103,214 | $110,249 |
Boards of Appeal
There were no significant changes in this budget line.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Secretarial/clerical | $600 | $600 | $600 |
| Advertising | $1,000 | $19,760 | $20,155 |
| Total | $1,600 | $1,600 | $2,300 |
City Clerk
The clerk's budget reflects the addition of a part-time clerk at the request of the City Council, the step raise for the clerk's one-year anniversary and the added costs for the city election.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| City Clerk | $55,153 | $55,872 | $56,989 |
| Assistant City Clerk | $39,684 | $36,885 | $42,263 |
| Clerical Part-time | $6,000 | $16,450 | $22,198 |
| Expenses | $3,400 | $3,400 | $8,900 |
| Total | $104,237 | $112,607 | $130,350 |
City Council
There are no changes to this budget. The mayor said she would entertain an increase in the City Council stipend if the councilors were seeking one. A comparison with other communities found stipends ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, suggesting $500. The stipend has not changed in nearly two decades. Finance Committee member Lisa Blackmer thought it was a matter better left to next year; members Keith Bona and Bryan Sapienza thought it worth the conversation.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| City Councilors | $27,600 | $27,600 | $27,600 |
| Expenses | $8,320 | $8,320 | $8,320 |
| Total | $35,920 | $35,920 | $35,920 |
Election & Registration
Expenses are up because of the increased costs of ballots and coding projected at $10,500.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Election Officers | $9,400 | $9,400 | $9,400 |
| Registrars | $2,400 | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| Census Workers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Expenses | $16,325 | $15,900 | $22,100 |
| Total | $28,125 | $27,700 | $33,900 |
Office of Community Development
This office is largely funded through Community Development Block Grants. The projects coordinator is open.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Director Community Development | $16,497 | $16,253 | $17,739 |
| Director of Purchasing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Technical Specialist | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fiscal Compliance Officer | $13,232 | $24,037 | $25,567 |
| Projects Coordinator | $8,229 | $6,626 | $7,499 |
| Expenses | $4,100 | $3,100 | $3,100 |
| Total | $42,149 | $50,016 | $53,905 |
Law Department
The legal budget has increased by $20,000 to reflect the increased need and the higher rates being charged by KP Law. The mayor said it has been difficult to find a local solicitor; Blackmer agreed, noting the conflicts that can occur and the lack of expertise in municipal law.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Solicitor | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Expenses | $40,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 |
| Total | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
License Commission
There is no change in this budget.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Members | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Chairman | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Expenses | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Total | $4,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 |
Mayor's Office
This budget includes a grants and communications specialist. The mayor anticipates one of two people already on payroll being shifted to this position depending on if a full-time administrative officer can be hired. The mayor's salary was also increased at the 2 percent COLA.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Mayor | $88,470 | $98,000 | $99,960 |
| Administrative Assistant | $52,715 | $49,773 | $52,040 |
| Grants & Comms Specialist | $0 | $39,520 | $50,304 |
| Expenses | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Total | $144,685 | $190,793 | $205,804 |
Information Technology
This line continues to have the largest increases the past few years, reflecting the need to upgrade the financial and general systems and for security, and to consolidate lines from other budgets. Director Mark Pierson told the committee that have expenses have gone up largely from the police line, the high-capacity internet and the connection to the transfer station. He said the department will be taking a step because it has taken on a number of projects in a short time and will be implementing and training on the technology.
The mayor said she intends to take $100,000 from the municipal technology to offset the increase.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| IT Director | $82,154 | $83,386 | $85,054 |
| Assistant MIS Director | $64,189 | $59,334 | $60,521 |
| Assistant MIS Director | $0 | $0 | $60,521 |
| Expenses | $178,795 | $360,000 | $432,870 |
| Total | $325,138 | $502,720 | $638,966 |
Office of Tourism
The director of tourism will be increased from 20 hours a week to 30 hours at $17 an hour. The mayor said she is trying to reinvest in that position that disappeared during the first year of the pandemic and returned part time. The approved salary in 2022 was not all spent.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Director | $39,968 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Expenses | $23,800 | $23,800 | $23,800 |
| Total | $63,789 | $38,800 | $50,320 |
Planning Board
The only change is an extra $500 in advertising because of increased costs.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Secretarial/clerical | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Advertising | $4,000 | $4,000 | $4,500 |
| Expenses | $0 | $148.98 | $0 |
| Total | $5,200 | $5,348.98 | $5,700 |
Traffic & Parking
Ticket entry is being done by a person at $15 an hour at about 10 hours a week.
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Hearing officer | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Ticket Entry | $0 | $5,200 | $7,800 |
| Meter Mechanic | $15,200 | $11,200 | $11,200 |
| Expenses | $1,700 | $17,000 | $1,700 |
| Total | $18,400 | $19,600 | $22,200 |
Treasurer & Collector
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Treasurer/Collector | $62,987 | $63,932 | $65,211 |
| Assistant Treasurer | $44,712 | $37,991 | $43,108 |
| Principal Clerk | $40,583 | $41,307 | $42,133 |
| Part-time clerks (2) | $33,758 | $34,000 | $38,000 |
| All Expenses | $78,500 | $85,100 | $101,700 |
| Total | $263,040 | $263,330 | $290,152 |
Vital Statistics
| Account Name | 2022 Approved | 2023 Approved | 2024 Requested |
| Expenses, book binding | $1,500 | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,500 | $2,00 |
Tags: fiscal 2024, north adams_budget,
