CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is entering fiscal 2027 with something like a sigh of relief from a combination of budget reductions and free cash largesse.

 

The total budget is up 3 percent at $5,550,319, a $164,237 increase over this year. 

 

"Our free cash came in a lot higher than I ever thought. We came in at $950,652 so that allowed us to reset and get us where I was hoping for us to be," Town Administrator Ronald Boucher told the joint meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee on Monday. "We're in really good shape financially.

 

Board member Colton Andrews said it was probably the best financial position for the town; Boucher responded it was in "a long time because we're always paying catch up."

 

The town's operating budget is $1,911,815, up 2.63 percent; the school was able to carve some savings to come in at $3,212,174, or up 4.10 percent; and the McCann Technical School assessment is $426,330, down about 2.57 percent from this year.

 

The town budget includes an across the board 3 percent cost-of-living raise for employees. There are savings on the town assessor side of about $52,000 as the assessor first reduced her hours and then resigned, and costs for the valuation software dropped. Other savings include a decrease in hours for the administrative chief's salary, and some services, supplies and trainings. 

 

Town meeting will be asked to approve the budget and free cash and stabilization spending articles.

 

These include transfers of $19,500 from the school stabilization account to repair the concrete pad at the school entrance and $70,000 to encumber equipment and materials for the school bathroom renovations. The bathrooms are expected to be done next summer. 

 

Free cash transfers of $163,569 for a new Department of Public Works truck; $10,000 for library repairs; $500.74 to pay prior year bills; $450,000 to stabilization; for the payment on the school roof; and $150,000 to reduce the tax rate. 

 

The town will roll over about $177,000 in free cash and end the year with about $750,000 in stabilization. 

 

Town Accountant Lynne Lemanski estimated the town should be about $106,000 below its levy ceiling, a far cry from the $3,000 that had been projected. 

 

"I used [property values] similar to last year and then, so that was one of the reasons why we use free cash to reduce the tax rate is because it will increase that excess capacity," she said. "We were only at like $3,000 so if you go over, if you get up to zero, then you have to face a possible 2 1/2 override if it got worse. So that's why I suggested increased use free cash to offset the tax rate, because you'll build up."

 

The Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend the spending plan for fiscal 2027. 

 

The town warrant will also include an articles with new language on dog kennels that authorizes the town administrator to designate the person or board in charge of licensing; and one that will denote the third member of the Board of Assessors can be the assessor, whether or not they live in town. 

 

In other business, Boucher said the Berkshire Family YMCA has found another location for its summer camp, he is working on performers for concerts at the town field, stated the need for a sound system for town meetings and other events, and noted state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III will hold a coffee hour at Town Hall on Monday, May 11, from 10:30 to noon.