Adams Town Meeting to Vote Spending Articles Monday
ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members will decide on 25 warrant articles on Monday, June 22, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Building, including authorization for a number of spending articles that make up a budget approximately $21 million.
Of that amount the town is requesting, in Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses.
This budget has previously been described as a level-funded services budget, with an increase of $513,821 for personnel and $66,420 for expenses.
However, officials have emphasized that the number of vacant positions in town has created a lot of unknowns but adjustments can be made during a special town meeting when more information is available.
The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.
Health insurance for these roles have also been budgeted assuming the new personnel picks the family plan, ensuring the funds are available.
The Hoosac Valley Regional School District is requesting $6,814,145 for the town's assessment (Article 10). Cheshire has passed its portion of the budget.
Town meeting members will also decide whether to amend the regional school district agreement, in Article 18, to smooth out the assessment process from year-to-year. More information here.
In Article 11, the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District, McCann Technical School, proposes an assessment of $1,204,074.
Town meeting will also decide whether to adjust the eligibility criteria for its senior citizen property tax exemption, in Article 19, following a substantial decline in recipients. The town is proposing to amend this to no more than $18,000 in gross assets for single residents and no more than $22,500 for a married couple.
The exemption is fully reimbursed by the state, so adjusting the eligibility does not come out of the town's levy or raise the tax rate. More information here.
Town meeting members will also vote on Article 20, a proposal to petition the General Court for special legislation changing the name of the Board of Selectmen to Select Board.
The warrant has two citizens' petitions to add two non-binding referendum questions to the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
Question 1 (Article 23)
If the town had an opportunity to create an access route to the summit of Mount Greylock, indicate what means you would prefer: a surface roadway, aerial passenger tramway, or no build option
Question 2, Article 25, requests an answer of yes or no.
Shall the town withdraw from the Greylock Glen project, a development partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation?
In Article 8, the town is requesting a total of $333,006 from free cash for capital infrastructure and equipment for the town hall, police department, and department of public works.
Work and recommended amounts are listed as follows:
Town Hall:
- beech leaf disease treatment for $7,000,
- slum and blight remediations for $70,000,
- Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Heal Program Assessment: $21,906.
Police Department:
- three automated external defibrillators for $7,100,
- one cruiser replacement for $72,000,
- one vehicle replacement for $40,000.
Public Works:
- new snowplow and attachments for $14,000,
- one plow truck replacement for $61,000,
- one vehicle replacement for $35,000,
- utility task vehicle equipment for $5,000.
In Article 9, the town is requesting the appropriation of $106,936 from the wastewater treatment plant's retained earnings to be used for purchase, rebuilding, and/or installation of the following:
- its generator's Milton Control Systems for $37,000,
- chlorine control devices and equipment for $17,000,
- and fiscal year 2026 operating costs for $52,936.
The town is proposing to utilize $250,000 from free cash and $75,000 from retained earnings to offset the tax rate in Article 12.
In Article 7, the town is requesting $339,000 for the FY27 principal and interest debt payments
associated with the town hall, police station, library bond, and the storm damage
bond.
Additionally, the article requests $30,000 to fund new software and consulting services for the assessors.
There is also a request of $1,529,329, to fund the Sewer Enterprise Fund, which covers operation of the wastewater treatment plant,
It is recommended that the plant's operations be funded with $1,454,329 from the tax levy and $75,000 from retained earnings.
The town is requesting the appropriation of $175,000, in Article 13, to fund the reserve account to cover any unforeseen expenditures without having to call for a special town meeting.
The town is proposing to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers, in Article 4, as follows:
- Board of Selectmen: Chairperson for $2,000 and members for $1,200,
- Board of Assessors: full-time for $83,571 and part-time for $1,800,
- Board of Health: Chairperson for $1,386 and member for $924,
- Cemetery Commissioners: Chairperson for $600 and member for $500,
- Treasurer/Collector for $83,571,
- Moderator for $300,
- Town Clerk for $83,571.
The town is also proposing amending the town's compensation plan, in Article 16, setting a new salary and hourly wage schedule for FY27 to include a 2 percent base wage adjustment over FY26.
In Article 17, the town is proposing using $81,500 from the Economic Development Fund to cover the payroll expenses of the executive director of the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The fund currently has a balance of $143,200.
Tags: fiscal 2027, town meeting 2026,
