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Pittsfield Councils Gives Preliminary OK to $179M Operating Budget
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the fifth and final day of preliminary budget hearings last week, the City Council passed four departmental budgets without amendments and passed a fiscal 2022 operating budget of $179,205,963, which was amended from the originally proposed $179,410,963.
The operating budget passed in a 7-3 vote with Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon, Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi, and Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell voting in opposition.
President Peter Marchetti was absent from the hearing, as he is recovering from surgery.
The council originally rejected an order from Mayor Linda Tyer to appropriate $750,000 from free cash to reduce the fiscal 2022 tax rate. Tyer then made a counteroffer to increase the free cash amount to $1.5 million, which passed unanimously.
The panel also passed an order authorizing the use of revolving funds for FY22, an order appropriating $202,000 for parking-related expenditures, and an order to borrow $70,000 for Enterprise Fund capital expenditures.
An order to borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $6,992,000 for General Fund expenditures capital budget passed in an 8-2 vote with Moon and Connell in opposition and the Five Year Capital Plan was accepted and placed on file in a 7-3 vote with Moon, Morandi, and Connell voting in opposition.
The 5 Year Capital Plan has raised controversy amongst community members because it includes a $55 million rebuild of the Pittsfield Police station. Members of the public called into this meeting to express opposition to this expense, claiming that it does not align with the progressive values that the city says they are trying to adopt.
Mayor Linda Tyer assured the panel that the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan is a "living, breathing document" and the items on it are not concrete. This was not enough assurance for the opposing council members.
Public Services
There are also four new positions listed in the budget: a Highway Maintenance Person, Business Manager, ROW Inspector, and Parks Foreman.
Connell and Morandi did not agree with the addition of a business manager, claiming it was unnecessary after Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales outlined the work overload his department is under and how the administrative position would aid them.
Connell unsuccessfully motioned to cut the business manager's salary of $40,000, which only he and Morandi supported.
"We can't undercut how important administrative work is, how much that really weighed out productivity," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi said. "Anybody who has worked in the modern world in an office setting knows how much administrative work that can really eat up the time of people that you need doing other work."
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | |
Commissioner of Public Service | $45,880 | $48,449 | $50,209 | $47,406 | $51,794 | |
Business Manager | - | - | - | - | $40,000 | |
City Engineer | $72,000 | $75,840 | $84,652 | $85,593 | $43,235 | |
Inspector of Weights and Measures | $39,146 | $45,103 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Office Manager | $41,258 | $42,296 | $43,367 | $50,838 | $51,601 | |
Traffic Superintendant | $65,711 | $65,000 | ||||
Highway Superintendent | $69,066 | $72,174 | ||||
ROW Inspector (new) | - | - | - | - | $45,000 | |
Street Compliance Inspector | $55,650 | $60,089 | $62,838 | $0 | $0 | |
Traffic Maintence Person | $38,024 | $38,024 | ||||
Highway Maintenance Craftsman | 239,365 | $241,263 | $238,565 | $249,304 | $302,950 | |
Highway Maintenance Craftsman | $267,604 | $281,289 | ||||
Highway Maintenance Person (new) | - | - | - | - | $70,000 | |
Parking Garage Manager | $53,768 | $54,977 | $56,370 | $57,798 | $60,399 | |
Parking Control Officers | $61,055 | $63,512 | $68,057 | $72,140 | $75,386 | |
Administrative Assistant | $35,572 | $68,841 | $76,065 | $83,743 | $86,088 | |
Fleet Manager | $51,666 | $55,796 | $58,639 | $60,896 | $63,636 | |
Working Foreman | $47,746 | $51,546 | $54,169 | $56,751 | $59,305 | |
Motor Equipment Repairman | $229,089 | $216,687 | $227,540 | $243,515 | $254,473 | |
MEO-2 | $44,401 | $46,365 | $48,966 | $51,933 | $54,270 | |
Parks Lead | $39,768 | $41,999 | $44,717 | $0 | ||
Park Maint. Superintendent | $64,267 | $67,159 | ||||
Parks Craftsman | $45,800 | $32,452 | $34,273 | $36,412 | $76,100 | |
Custodian | $28,793 | $31,637 | $32,480 | $33,822 | $35,344 | |
Signal Maintainer | $37,000 | $35,333 | $36,399 | $0 | $0 | |
Park Maintenance Men | $127,986 | $102,683 | $142,992 | $158,847 | $207,494 | |
Parks Foreman (new) | - | - | - | - | $50,000 | |
Park Maintenance Superintendent | $61,745 | $60,400 | $63,473 | $64,267 | $67,159 | |
Seasonal Labor | $90,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Scheduled Overtime | $125,000 | $125,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $100,000 | |
Snow/Ice Overtime | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
Equipment Operators | $223,096 | $224,570 | $252,457 | $ | $ | |
Contractual Services | $100,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Contractual Allowances | $12,500 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
Traffic Signal Maintenance | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | |
Utilities | $80,000 | $60,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | |
Street Lighting | $480,000 | $430,000 | $350,000 | $250,000 | $200,000 | |
Maintenance | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | |
Collegiate Baseball/ Wahconah Park (PARKS) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Maintenance of School Fields | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
Repairs/Services | $55,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Garage Maintenance | $220,000 | $220,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $220,000 | |
Rental Expense | $71,250 | $73,200 | $73,200$ | $73,000 | $75,000 | |
Repairs - Streets | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $275,000 | |
Streetscape Maintenance | $35,000 | $35,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Solid Waste Collection | $1,251,889 | $1,283,186 | $1,300,262 | $1,800,000 | $1,950,000 | |
Solid Waste Disposal | $1,138,634 | $1,161,407 | $1,321,183 | $1,350,000 | $1,790,000 | |
Solid Waste Recycle | $763,349 | $782,433 | $794,029 | $187,000 | $180,000 | |
Household Haz Waste Collection | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 | |
Landfill Monitoring | $100,000 | $100,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $150,000 | |
Sand | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 | |
Professional Services | $10,900 | $13,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
Garage Supplies | $20,000 | $15,000 | $13,000 | $13,000 | $20,000 | |
Office Supplies | $10,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $12,000 | |
Maintenance of Parks | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 | $110,000 | |
Gasoline and Diesel Oil | $330,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $330,000 | |
Tree Operations | $75,000 | $85,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | |
Equipment | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
Highway and Traffic Supplies | $30,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 | $32,000 | $32,000 | |
Total |
|
$8,014,526 | $7,966,737 | $8,076,245 | $8,076,388 | $9,050,721 |
Water Treatment
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | ||
Commissioner of Public Utilities | $22,940 | $24,224 | $25,105 | $23,703 | $25,897 | ||
Business Manager (new) | - | - | - | - | $20,000 | ||
City Engineer | - | - | - | - | $21,618 | ||
Water Superintendent | $61,898 | $65,048 | $68,352 | $70,813 | $66,257 | ||
Administrative Assistant | $0 | $17,782 | $20,435 | $20,606 | $21,491 | ||
Working Foreman | $52,571 | $56,345 | $62,838 | $63,991 | $55,194 | ||
Sr. Civil Engineer | $30,485 | $31,251 | $32,043 | $32,875 | $33,368 | ||
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Person | $164,310 | $168,267 | $176,691 | $184,117 | $188,532 | ||
GIS Coordinator | $30,485 | $31,251 | $32,043 | $32,875 | $33,368 | ||
Water Mach. Repairman | $79,618 | $83,693 | $79,103 | $89,518 | $85,990 | ||
Chief TPO Non-Shift | $54,170 | $58,629 | $61,612 | $63,991 | $66,737 | ||
Head TPO Non-Shift | $0 | $0 | $0 | $ | |||
TPO Non-Shift | $214,855 | $241,285 | $253,209 | $266,646 | $351,786 | ||
Meter Reader | $36,521 | $38,161 | $40,280 | $42,477 | $42,656 | ||
Senior Clerk Typist | $38,465 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Seasonal Labor | $38,400 | $38,400 | $38,400 | $38,400 | $40,000 | ||
Overtime | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | ||
Contractual Allowances | $4,500 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
Utilities | $350,000 | $350,000 | $375,000 | $375,000 | $375,000 | ||
Taxes | $180,000 | $170,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | ||
Maintenance | $300,000 | $300,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | ||
Contractual Services | $200,000 | $200,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 | ||
Professional Services | $180,000 | $180,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | ||
Supplies | $40,000 | $40,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | ||
Chemicals | $290,000 | $290,000 | $270,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | ||
Capital Improvements | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | - | - | ||
Acquisition of Equipment | $75,000 | $75,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $150,000 | ||
Maturing Debt | $827,088 | $1,075,933 | $1,090,546 | $1,167,208 | $1,111,682 | ||
Interest on Debt | $671,148 | $579,105 | $539,500 | $535,041 | $539,453 | ||
Short-term Debt Issuance | $120,000 | $120,000 | $200,000 | ||||
Debt Issuance Cost | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | ||
Allocation to General Fund | $969,602 | $920,004 | $950,474 | $930,441 | $845,253 | ||
Total | $5,047,116 | $5,175,154 | $5,375,631 | $5,472,703 | $5,614,281 |
Sewer Enterprise
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | |
Working Forman | $45,554 | $49,803 | $55,803 | $55,874 | $56,712 | |
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Persons | $153,790 | $162,979 | $168,342 | $185,928 | $177,896 | |
Wtr./Swr. Laborer | - | - | - | - | $75,000 | |
Overtime | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Contractual Allowances | $1,500 | $2,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
Utilities | $30,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | |
Maintenance | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | |
Stormwater Services | $25,000 | $18,500 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $100,000 | |
Contractual Services | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 | |
Mains & Manhole Supplies | $20,000 | $15,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $100,000 | |
Total | $460,844 | $468,782 | $475,145 | $816,802 | $1,039,608 |
Waste Water
The budget was passed in a 9-1 vote with Morandi opposing.
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | ||
Comm of Public Works | $22,940 | $24,224 | $25,105 | $23,703 | $25,897 | ||
Sewer Superintendent | $63,452 | $66,663 | $70,054 | $72,760 | $75,882 | ||
Business Manager (new) | - | - | - | - | $20,000 | ||
City Engineer (new) | - | - | - | - | $21,618 | ||
Administrative Assistant | $0 | $17,782 | $20,435 | $20,606 | $21,491 | ||
Work Foreman Water Machine Repairmen | $44,432 | $46,700 | $54,820 | $56,041 | $58,271 | ||
Sr. Civil Engineer | $30,485 | $31,521 | $32,043 | $32,875 | $33,368 | ||
Chemist | $57,191 | $60,090 | $62,838 | $65,750 | $66,737 | ||
GIS Coordinator | $30,485 | $31,521 | $32,043 | $32,875 | $33,368 | ||
Water Machine Repairmen | $149,571 | $155,258 | $163,979 | $176,975 | $188,200 | ||
Lab Technicians | $75,138 | $78,545 | $82,943 | $87,092 | $90,680 | ||
Chief TPO Shift | $50,541 | $53,096 | $55,803 | $57,410 | $59,874 | ||
Head TPO Shift | $194,382 | $413,793 | $512,038 | $531,050 | $596,365 | ||
TPO Shift | $365,698 | $231,590 | $133,203 | $139,629 | $134,117 | ||
Head TPO Float Shift | $81,223 | $41,203 | $47,790 | $49,972 | $50,653 | ||
Senior Clerk Typist | $32,536 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Electrician | $0 | $40,000 | $55,803 | $57,410 | $59,874 | ||
Seasonal Labor | $38,400 | $38,400 | $38,400 | $38,400 | $40,000 | ||
Overtime | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $100,000 | ||
Contractual Allowances | $6,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | ||
Utilities | $500,000 | $575,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $1,200,000 | ||
Chemical Process | $220,000 | $220,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 | $580,000 | ||
Maintenance | $260,000 | $260,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | ||
Sludge Handling | $375,000 | $375,000 | $375,000 | $400,000 | $803,300 | ||
Contractual Services | $110,000 | $110,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $90,000 | ||
Professional Services | $180,000 | $180,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $150,000 | ||
Supplies | $45,000 | $45,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | ||
Capital Improvements | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | ||
Acquisition of Equipment | $50,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | - | - | ||
Maturing Debt | $1,024,386 | $999,323 | $1,098,663 | $1,198,215 | $2,918,281 | ||
Interest on Debt | $802,386 | $637,281 | $822,469 | $786,220 | $1,732,744 | ||
Debt Issuance Costs | $50,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | ||
Short-term Debt Interest | $200,500 | $200,500 | $200,000 | ||||
Allocation to the General Fund | $886,636 | $963,322 | $1,011,692 | $1,009,310 | $997,530 | ||
Total | $5,868,535 |
$5,887,088 |
$6,580,621 | $6,741,794 | $10,658,249 |
Worker's Compensation
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | ||
Compensation Payments | $335,000 | $300,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | ||
Medical Payments | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | $225,000 | ||
Injured on Duty - Police and Fire | $190,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | ||
Total | $750,000 | $675,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 |
Finance and Administration
The budget has increased 2 percent from last year, or by $24,645.
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | ||
IT Manager (Moved to IT budget) | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
City Accountant | $61,150 | $62,999 | $67,575 | $69,264 | $73,143 | ||
Administrative Assistant | $32,522 | $33,055 | $33,538 | $17,720 | $33,741 | ||
Chief Assessor | $80,185 | ||||||
Assessors | $185,342 | $193,213 | $197,587 | $203,815 | $71,050 | ||
Treasurer | $83,424 | $88,095 | $91,295 | $93,577 | $98,818 | ||
Tax Collector | $62,474 | $64,574 | $66,919 | $68,592 | $72,078 | ||
Info Systems Specialists (Moved to IT budget) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Assistant Treasurer | $42,615 | $43,255 | $46,246 | $47,909 | $49,965 | ||
Assistant Tax Collector | $44,319 | $45,104 | $47,399 | $25,274 | $43,627 | ||
Purchasing Agent | $64,249 | $66,188 | $68,592 | $69,963 | $73,518 | ||
Deputy Purchasing Agent | $34,379 | $35,580 | $38,231 | $39,004 | $44,579 | ||
Head Clerk | $32,947 | $33,010 | $34,035 | $35,096 | $36,602 | ||
Account Clerk-Assessor | $32,522 | $33,055 | $33,538 | $34,383 | $43,627 | ||
Buyer | $0 | $0 | $30,157 | $30,551 | $36,833 | ||
Payroll Specialist | $41,981 | $35,925 | $38,701 | $39,910 | $41,622 | ||
Junior Accountant | $44,768 | $46,230 | $48,351 | $50,580 | $51,339 | ||
Benefits Analyst | $41,981 | $42,611 | $43,367 | $44,484 | $45,151 | ||
Principal Clerk Cashiers | $58,794 | $59,842 | $59,233 | $61,004 | $64,556 | ||
Senior Account Clerks - Treasurer | - | - | $28,495 | $29,219 | $30,472 | ||
Senior Account Clerks | $97,398 | $98,859 | $63,462 | $65,231 | $59,315 | ||
Network Administrator (Moved to IT budget) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Tax Collection Services | $50,000 | $60,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | ||
Equipment Maintenance | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
Revaluation | $101,000 | $76,000 | $79,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | ||
Legal Ads and Subscription | $12,000 | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | ||
Supplies | $32,000 | $26,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
Total | $1,170,865 | $1,168,595 | $1,223,721 | $1,223,576 | $1,248,221 |
Unclassified
Connell motioned to reduce the Contingency line by $50,000, which failed in a 6-4 vote with Moon, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, Morandi, and Connell voting in support.
Moon queried Police Chief Michael Wynn on the Capitol Improvement line that increased by $400,000 on top of funding the department is allocated in the Capitol Improvement Plan.
The line item is budgeted for police cruisers, Wynn said, some of which have a short life of 3-5 years.
Wynn explained that it is anticipated in FY22 that they will allocate $250,000 of that line item for for vehicles.
Account Name | 2018 Approval | 2019 Approval | 2020 Approval | 2021 Approval | 2022 Approval | |
40U Hearings Officer | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
40U Clerk | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
Crossing Guards | $25,000 | $25,375 | $25,375 | $27,000 | $27,000 | |
Scheduled Overtime | $15,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | |
Insurance Medicare Coverage | $1,156,751 | $1,156,751 | $1,156,751 | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | |
Insurance Health | $24,500,000 | $25,025,000 | $26,425,000 | $26,750,000 | $25,300,000 | |
Health Ins. Mitigation Account | $210,832 | $0 | $0 | |||
Insurance General | $1,232,134 | $1,293,740 | $1,425,000 | $1,600,000 | $1,837,869 | |
Insurance Group Life | $85,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
Insurance Unemployment | $300,000 | $250,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | |
Retirement Contribution | $12,206,474 | $13,318,798 | $13,519,322 | $14,178,149 | $14,915,413 | |
Benefits Conversion | $400,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | |
Stipends | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | |||
Animal Shelter Management Fee | $52,360 | $52,360 | $52,360 | $52,000 | $52,000 | |
Telephone and Internet | $125,000 | $125,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $95,000 | |
Computer Upgrade and Repair | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Computer License and Support | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
City Audit | $95,000 | $95,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 | |
Contractual Services | $110,000 | $133,350 | $133,350 | $133,350 | $133,350 | |
Tyler Street Business Group | $0 | $0 | $0 | |||
Medicaid Services | $40,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $45,000 | $45,000 | |
Seminars/Travel/Dues | $25,000 | $27,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
Postage | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Bank Service Charges | $20,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 | |
Contingency | $245,000 | $245,000 | $235,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | |
Capital Expenditures | $375,000 | $375,000 | $550,000 | $100,000 | $500,000 | |
Long-term Debt Principal | $7,595,982 | $7,889,695 | $5,590,000 | $5,924,120 | $5,960,573 | |
Long-term Debt Interest | $2,392,100 | $3,385,196 | $3,900,000 | $3,781,508 | $3,651,203 | |
Short-term Debt Interest | $405,535 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | |
Debt Issuance Costs | $100,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
Allocation from Water | ($969,602) | ($920,004) | ($920,004) | ($930,441) | ($845,253) | |
Allocation from Sewer | ($886,636) | ($963,322) | ($963,322) | ($1,009,310) | ($997,530) | |
Total | $49,909,990 | $52,367,939 | $51,096,036 | $53,306,376 | $53,237,125 |
Tags: fiscal 2022, pittsfield_budget,