 Williamstown Select Board Weighs in on FY26 Budget, CPA GrantsThe board decided to put off a decision on its recommendation for an article related to the sewer department, and the panel split on whether to support a series of appropriations of Community Preservation Act funds. Adams Selectmen to Begin Review of $19M BudgetThe Board of Selectmen will take up review of the fiscal 2026 budget beginning Tuesday, with the presentation of the budget books and an an overview. Williamstown Fin Comm OKs Budget with Tax Hike, Lower Non-Profit AllotmentThe Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to send town meeting a fiscal year 2026 spending plan that would raise property taxes by more than 7 percent in the year that begins on July 1. CBRSD School Committee OKs $36M BudgetThe Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a gross final budget of $36,643,001 for fiscal 2026, an increase of 2.70 percent over this year. Mount Greylock School Committee Sends FY26 Budget to Member TownsThe committee's annual public hearing and vote on a spending plan for the next academic year concludes a process that began in earnest for the panel in December. North Adams School Finance Panel Reviews Fiscal 2026 Spending PlanThe draft proposal for fiscal 2026 is $21,636,220, up 3.36 percent that will be offset with $940,008 in school choice funds, bringing the total to $20,696,212, or a 2.17 percent increase. Pittsfield School District Says No Personnel Layoffs PlannedThe district says that no school employees will lose their jobs because of reductions in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Adams Preparing for Fiscal 2026 Review; Nomination Papers AvailableThe Board of Selectmen will have a preliminary budget in hand for the March 19 meeting as the town prepares a spending plan for fiscal 2026. North Adams Schools Eye Level Service Budget But Wary of Federal CutsSchool districts are planning as if things are status quo based on the governor's budget but with the knowledge matters may be in flux as state and federal leaders move through the budget process. Williamstown Finance Begins Review of FY26 BudgetThe Finance Committee on Wednesday began a review of a fiscal year 2026 budget that would result in a 5.03 percent increase in the property tax levy from the year that ends on June 30.  Higher Taxes, Loss of Latin Seen in Mount Greylock's Tentative Spending PlanA 16 percent health insurance increase from the Berkshire Health Group alone accounts for $550,000 in increased cost for the preK-12 district in FY26 — about 38 percent of the $1.4 million total. Dalton Finance Chipping Away at Department BudgetsThe Finance Committee voted to decrease several budget lines during its meeting last week. Hoosac Valley Prepares for Budget Cuts in Fiscal 2026The Hoosac Valley Regional School District is eying a 3 percent budget increase for total budget of $23.1 million for fiscal year 2026. Dalton Day In Need of SponsorshipsThis year, the town will not receive ARPA funds because it was a response to aid towns during the pandemic. Dalton Officials Begin FY2026 Budget ReviewFiscal 2026 will be mixed — slight increases because of the end ARPA but offsets using the last of the funds for supplies. Pittsfield Braces for 'Difficult' Budget SeasonThe upcoming budget cycle will be "difficult" and have no frills, officials say. Central Berkshire Eyes 4.13% Increase for FY26The Central Berkshire Regional School District is anticipating a 4.13 percent increase to its gross initial budget for fiscal 2026, translating to an increase of $1,473,826.  Williamstown Expects Spike in Property Taxes in FY26No details were revealed about the town's fiscal year 2026 spending plan at Monday's joint meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee. But it was apparent that FY26 budget will require a significant increase in the property tax levy in the year that begins July 1. Lanesborough, Williamstown Schools Make FY26 Budget RequestsThe Mount Greylock Regional School District's elementary school principals Thursday presented their fiscal year 2026 budget requests to the School Committee. Mount Greylock School Committee Hears Need for More TeachersThe middle-high school council is requesting the addition of three full-time teachers in the next fiscal year — one each in the math, wellness and world languages departments. Williamstown Finance Sees Pressure on Property Tax BillsA stagnant local economy promises to put increasing upward pressure on local tax bills.  Pittsfield Council, School Committee Want Better CommunicationThe City Council and School Committee would like next year's budget process to go better than the last. |
