Berkshire Planning Commission Budget Up 16% for FY24

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's proposed budget has increased by more than $886,000, or about 16.4 percent, largely due to several new grants.

On Thursday, the Finance Committee OK'd a proposed $6,266,015 budget for fiscal 2024, which is $866,431 higher than this year. It will go to the full commission for final approval.

Treasurer Buck Donovan said that, as usual, the ask is detailed and done very well by staff.

He pointed out that there is a jump in compensation and vacation leave from around $150,000 to around $190,000 because the organization has more employees with bigger salaries.

Overall benefits including health, dental, sick, vacation, and comp time increased by $143,985 from $984,065 in FY23 to $1,128,050 in FY24. Retiree health insurance decreased because of the decrease in the dental rate cost for FY24.

The computer equipment, software, and maintenance line also increased significantly from around $51,000 to about $72,000 because BRPC was required to do additional malware and spam protections from its insurance company.

The budget increase is primarily due to new grants for economic development, housing, environmental and energy, and public health programs. BRPC has several awarded grants that will be under contract shortly as well as grant applications that have been or will be submitted in the coming months.

Revenues include $250,000 from the Substance Misuse Grant Program and about $357,000 for Local Health Support Contact Tracing, and about $306,000 for the Regional Food System Partnerships Program.

Habitat For Humanity Modular Homes Coming to Robbins Ave.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Friday, April 11, 2025

The homes will be available for residents earning between 55 and 65 percent of the area median income. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first of two below-market modular homes arrived on the West Side on Thursday, and both are expected to be move-in ready this summer.

The other is expected next week.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is building two below-market condominiums at 112 Robbins Ave. for families earning between 55 percent and 65 percent of the area median income. Monthly costs for the three- and four-bedroom units are expected to be less than $1,500 with Habitat's subsidies.

Modulars allow for quicker construction to get more families into quality, affordable housing.

"Just because we have such an aggressive schedule this year, we are doing many modulars in addition to the stick-built that we usually do," communications manager Erin O'Brien explained.

Just this year, the nonprofit is constructing five homes in Pittsfield and 10 in Housatonic.

The two homes at 112 Robbins Ave. will come to $148,000 for a three-bedroom with the 20 percent subsidy and $156,000 for a four-bedroom. Similar homes in the Pittsfield area are valued between $225,000 and $250,000.

While prices are subject to change, the three-bedroom condo will cost owners about $1,430 per month and the four bedroom $1,495 per month, compared to renting in the city for more than $1,800 per month. Habitat noted that this provides a potential annual savings of $4,500 to $6,000, while building equity and long-term financial security.

The eligibility range between 55 percent and 65 percent AMI is said to support families who earn too much for most housing subsidies but still struggle to afford market-rate homes.