DALTON, Mass. — During its meeting last week, the Select Board tentatively approved several budgets, addressing both increases and reductions 

 

The sealer of weights and measures budget is anticipated to double. The board approved an increase of $800, bringing it to $1,600. 

 

"We started with a $500 contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which allowed us to bring the budget down from $7,000 which had included equipment that we would have had to have bought," Town Manager Tom Hutcheson said. 

 

"But that was an initial figure given by the Commonwealth with the understanding that it would go up if they discovered if there was a need to calibrate more instruments in the town than we had previously been doing, that was in fact the case." 

 

The board approved the Cultural Activities budget, which has a $500 increase, bringing it to $7,500.

 

In 2023, $7,300 of Dalton Day expenses were covered by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package

 

Last year, Dalton Day was paid for using $4,500 from the budget, $1,750 from sponsorships, and $3,249.50 from ARPA. 

 

This year, the town will not receive ARPA funds because it was a response to aid towns during the pandemic.  

 

The board approved an increase of $1,300 for the Memorial Day Committee budget, bringing it to $3,550. 

 

The main reason for the increase is that they need 40 grave markers, which, after some research, are "pretty expensive," Town Assistant Alyssa Maschino said. Additionally, they need 50 three-by-five street flags. 

 

The Group Purchasing budget was approved for the amount of $4,475, a $175 increase due to an increase in the Franklin Regional Counil Governments collective purchasing program’s annual fee. 

 

The board approved the Landfil Closure and Monitoring budget in the amount of $17,252, a $361 increase for several expense items including repair and maintenance, landfil laboratory, and engineering.  

 

The Building and Grounds was approved for the amount of $21,300, a $1,080 increase to cover the cost on increased use of printing and toner. 

 

The board tentatively approved the following budgets, which increased due to the 2 percent stipend increase:

 

The Animal Inspector's budget will increase by $35, bringing its total to $1,796; the Town Moderator's budget will increase by $9, bringing it to $457; and the Forest Warden's budget will increase by $50, bringing it to $2,600. 

 

The board also tentatively approved the following level-funded budgets: $55,000 for Legal Counsel, $60,000 for the reserve Fund, $1,685 for the Finance Committee, $5,000 for advertising, $1,500 for the Traffic Commission, $6,722 for the public Health Nurse, and $4,500 for the Historical Commission. 

 

The following budgets, which had decreases, were also tentatively approved: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which decreased by $4,862, bringing its total to $10,662; Town Reports, which decreased by $470, bringing its total to $6,495; and Recording Secretary, which decreased by $338, bringing its total to $9,157.