Pittsfield Council Preliminarily OKs Last of FY25 Budgets
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council preliminarily approved the last five departmental budgets with unanimous votes last Thursday.
The final vote on the $215,955,210 spending plan — which includes a $200,000 cut to the schools — will be taken on June 11.
The FY25 budget is a 5 percent increase from the previous year. Though a January petition asking for a close-to-level-funded budget was initially a stressor for Mayor Peter Marchetti in his first month of office, he said it was a good thing.
"The Jan. 9th petition to create chaos in my world about developing a budget was actually a good thing," he said. "Because I got to go about doing the budget, trying to make cuts, and I got to say, 'If you don't like it, blame the City Council. That's their directive.'"
The Pittsfield Police Department's nearly $15 million budget generated the most conversation, including an unsuccessful attempt to reduce the Shotspotter and body camera line by $250,000. Other departments were supported with little or no discussion.
Councilors also preliminarily passed several orders from Marchetti:
-
To appropriate $2.5 million from free cash to reduce the FY25 tax rate
-
To borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $10,192,500 for FY25 general fund capital expenditures
-
To borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $7,700,000 for FY25 enterprise fund capital expenditures
-
To appropriate and transfer $234,000 from the public works stabilization fund to the Department of Public Services for new equipment
-
To authorize the use and expenditure of the city's current reviving funds for FY25
-
To appropriate $249,600 for parking-related expenditures for FY25
Budget deliberations DAY 1
Budget deliberations DAY 2
Budget deliberations DAY 3
Police
The Pittsfield Police Department budget of $14,998,410 is a $633,737, or 4.41 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved after surviving one proposal for a reduction.
Councilor at Large Earl Persip III felt it was a solid budget and one of the better ones that the police have produced. He pointed out that the department made cuts in areas that were not fully spent in the past, adding, "I thank you for doing your due diligence with your budget."
"Your budget gets criticized a lot and I've criticized it in the past and I will gladly criticize it again if I think it needs it but I'm not going to do it just to do it," he said.
Persip asked if Chief Thomas Dawley was comfortable with the budget, which triggered a round of laughter from the crowd.
"I'm not comfortable but we will make it work somehow," Dawley said.
Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren motioned to reduce the line that deals with ShotSpotter by $250,000, as he feels that it is a luxury and may not be the most confident for providing data in court.
Dawley explained that there have been 40 activations this year that are sometimes false positives "but typically if we get a call for ShotSpotter there's evidence of a shooting." He feels it is "very effective" and pointed to a situation that occurred on Onota Street a couple of days prior when a gunshot was picked up from a man having a mental health episode.
Warren was the only vote in favor of the reduction. Other councilors see it as a useful tool and some are willing to review the data to determine its effectiveness but are not ready to do away with it.
|
Account Name |
2021 Approval |
2022 Approval |
2023 Approval |
2024 Approval |
2025 Approval |
|
Police Chief |
$127,034 |
$133,491 |
$143,503 |
$150,678 |
$178,102 |
|
Police Captains |
$352,266 |
$366,548 |
$372,046 |
$434,538 |
$604,371 |
|
Police Lieutenants |
$696,319 |
$712,548 |
$731,762 |
$868,191 |
$875,811 |
|
Police Sergeants |
$1,223,386 |
$1,236,564 |
$1,403,359 |
$1,859,250 |
$1,828,734 |
|
Safety Officer |
$67,511 |
$72,750 |
$75,242 |
$90,959 |
$105,114 |
|
Detectives |
$634,091 |
$643,602 |
$649,597 |
$770,761 |
$830,839 |
|
Patrol Officers |
$4,187,207 |
$4,182,428 |
$4,221,188 |
$4,881,175 |
$5,206,274 |
|
Mechanic |
$56,733 |
$58,672 |
$59,552 |
$63,712 |
$66,867 |
|
Traffic Enforcement |
$0 |
$0 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
|
Drug Enforcement |
$215,000 |
$248,685 |
$252,415 |
$296,335 |
$256,335 |
|
Dispatchers |
$573,049 |
$599,046 |
$634,552 |
$659,085 |
$713,417 |
|
Animal Control Officer |
$66,398 |
$71,131 |
$67,009 |
$58,962 |
$70,913 |
|
Special Response Team |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Custodian |
$44.53 |
$46,032 |
$51,557 |
$58,479 |
$63,216 |
|
Finance and Admin Manager |
$68,591 |
$72,433 |
$77,865 |
$84,211 |
$88,422 |
|
Exe. Admin Assist & Police Chief Ass |
$83,416 |
$99,772 |
$85,946 |
$90,836 |
$104,903 |
|
Limited Duty Officer |
$0 |
$0 |
$23,200 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Senior Clerk Typist |
$72,837 |
$75,327 |
$78,473 |
$75,404 |
$81,315 |
|
Animal Control Comm Clerk |
$1,000 |
$2,000 |
$2,000 |
$2,200 |
$2,200 |
|
Matrons |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,750 |
$15,750 |
|
Temporary Labor |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$11,000 |
$7,000 |
|
Special Investigation OT |
$60,000 |
$60,000 |
$60,900 |
$71,497 |
$71,497 |
|
Special Events OT |
$70,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,750 |
$59,581 |
$59,581 |
|
Scheduled Overtime |
$1,275,000 |
$1,275,500 |
$1,294,125 |
$1,519,303 |
$1,419,303 |
|
Dispatchers OT |
$110,000 |
$110,000 |
$111,650 |
$116,116 |
$116,116 |
|
Crime Analyst |
$56,165 |
$58,902 |
$63,320 |
$64,976 |
$74,067 |
|
Community Outreach OT |
$12,500 |
$12,500 |
$12,688 |
$14,896 |
$14,896 |
|
In Service |
$70,000 |
$70,000 |
$113,000 |
$118,000 |
$135,500 |
|
Contracted Services |
$85,000 |
$85,000 |
$85,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Grants Administrator |
$0 |
$0 |
- |
- |
$69,000 |
|
Shotspotter |
$240,000 |
$240,000 |
$204,750 |
$510,000 |
$483,000 |
|
Animal Control Testing Fees |
$200 |
$200 |
$200 |
$220 |
$220 |
|
Uniforms |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
$33,000 |
$31,500 |
|
Computer license/Support |
- |
$162,712 |
$197,000 |
$287,533 |
$287,533 |
|
Social Worker and Co Responder |
- |
- |
- |
$210,368 |
$217,241 |
|
Maintenance/Support |
$239,600 |
$92,888 |
$92,888 |
$100,000 |
$125,000 |
|
Police Education |
$15,000 |
$45,000 |
$45,000 |
$49,500 |
$49,500 |
|
Shipping/Postage |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
$550 |
$550 |
|
Printing |
$2,000 |
$2,000 |
$2,000 |
$2,200 |
$2,200 |
|
K9 Care and Supplies |
$8,000 |
$10,000 |
$12,500 |
$13,750 |
$15,125 |
|
Office Supplies |
$11,000 |
$11,000 |
$11,000 |
$12,100 |
$13,310 |
|
Drug Enforcement Expenses |
$16,800 |
$16,800 |
$16,800 |
$18,840 |
$20,328 |
|
Ammunition |
$30,000 |
$40,000 |
$40,000 |
$44,000 |
$49,000 |
|
Special Investigation Expenses |
$6,500 |
$6,500 |
$6,500 |
$6,825 |
$7,508 |
|
Care of Prisoners |
$14,000 |
$14,000 |
$14,000 |
$15,400 |
$15,400 |
|
Custodial Supplies |
$10,000 |
$19,000 |
$10,000 |
$11,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Equipment |
$95,000 |
$95,000 |
$110,000 |
$110,000 |
$121,500 |
|
Fleet Maintenance |
$65,000 |
$65,000 |
$65,000 |
$65,000 |
$71,500 |
|
Contractual Allowances |
$177,000 |
$168,000 |
$168,000 |
$243,000 |
$190,000 |
|
Total |
$11,324,229 |
$11,516,231 |
$11,927,437 |
$14,364,673 |
$14,998,410 |
Department of Public Services
The Department of Public Services Budget of $11,382,122 is a $286,559, or 2.58 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
|
Account Name |
2021 Approval |
2022 Approval |
2023 Approval |
2024 Approval |
2025 Approval |
|
Commissioner of Public Service |
$47,406 |
$51,794 |
$55,702 |
$60,242 |
$62,110 |
|
Business Manager |
- |
$40,000 |
$42,251 |
$45,362 |
$47,631 |
|
City Engineer |
$85,593 |
$43,235 |
$47,407 |
$44,364 |
$46,583 |
|
Office Manager |
$50,838 |
$51,601 |
$53,149 |
$57,294 |
$60,426 |
|
Traffic Superintendent |
$65,711 |
$65,000 |
$66,950 |
$66,002 |
$69,610 |
|
Highway Superintendent |
$69,066 |
$72,174 |
$74,339 |
$74,567 |
$77,588 |
|
ROW Inspector |
- |
$45,000 |
$46,350 |
$59,664 |
$62,903 |
|
Traffic Maintenance Person |
$38,024 |
$38,024 |
$39,165 |
$39,100 |
$41,055 |
|
Highway Maintenance Craftsman |
$249,304 |
$302,950 |
$381,759 |
$328,005 |
$342,169 |
|
Highway Maintenance Person |
- |
$70,000 |
$72,100 |
$80,188 |
$85,802 |
|
Parking Garage Manager |
$57,798 |
$60,399 |
$62,211 |
$70,529 |
$73,529 |
|
Parking Control Officers |
$72,140 |
$75,386 |
$77,648 |
$76,300 |
$80,115 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
$83,743 |
$86,088 |
$88,671 |
$91,950 |
$99,536 |
|
Fleet Manager |
$60,896 |
$63,636 |
$65,545 |
$70,186 |
$74,023 |
|
Working Foreman |
$56,751 |
$59,305 |
$61,084 |
$122,698 |
$125,993 |
|
Motor Equipment Repairman |
$243,515 |
$254,473 |
$262,107 |
$270,000 |
$283,500 |
|
MEO-2 |
$51,933 |
$54,270 |
$55,898 |
$45,646 |
$47,965 |
|
Parks Craftsman |
$36,412 |
$76,100 |
$80,100 |
$86,864 |
$90,159 |
|
Custodian |
$33,822 |
$35,344 |
$36,404 |
$37,004 |
$38,855 |
|
Signal Maintainer |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$55,000 |
$0 |
|
Park Maintenance Men |
$158,847 |
$207,494 |
$360,000 |
$328,700 |
$335,284 |
|
Parks Foreman |
- |
$50,000 |
$54,000 |
$59,644 |
$62,903 |
|
Park Maintenance Superintendent |
$64,267 |
$67,159 |
$69,174 |
$67,817 |
$71,524 |
|
Seasonal Labor |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$45,000 |
$45,000 |
|
Scheduled Overtime |
$200,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
|
Snow/Ice Overtime |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
|
Equipment Operators |
$252,457 |
$281,289 |
$260,604 |
$327,937 |
$340,959 |
|
Contractual Services |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$55,750 |
$50,000 |
|
Contractual Allowances |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$29,000 |
$35,000 |
|
Traffic Signal Maintenance |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$130,000 |
$130,000 |
$150,000 |
|
Utilities |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$40,250 |
$50,000 |
|
Street Lighting |
$250,000 |
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
$230,000 |
$280,000 |
|
Maintenance |
$100,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$172,500 |
$170,000 |
|
Maintenance of School Fields |
$20,000 |
$20,000 |
$40,000 |
$44,000 |
$44,000 |
|
Garage Maintenance |
$200,000 |
$220,000 |
$220,000 |
$220,000 |
$242,000 |
|
Rental Expense |
$73,000 |
$75,000 |
$70,000 |
$75,000 |
$80,000 |
|
Repairs - Streets |
$250,000 |
$275,000 |
$300,000 |
$345,000 |
$350,000 |
|
Streetscape Maintenance |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$80,000 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
$1,800,000 |
$1,950,000 |
$2,242,500 |
$2,500,000 |
$2,420,000 |
|
Solid Waste Disposal |
$1,350,000 |
$1,790,000 |
$2,058,500 |
$2,500,000 |
$2,100,000 |
|
Solid Waste Recycle |
$187,000 |
$180,000 |
$182,888 |
$200,000 |
$600,000 |
|
Household Haz Waste Collection |
$6,000 |
$6,000 |
$6,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Landfill Monitoring |
$70,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$165,000 |
$170,000 |
|
Winter Operations |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
|
Professional Services |
$20,000 |
$20,000 |
$20,000 |
$22,250 |
$25,000 |
|
Garage Supplies |
$13,000 |
$20,000 |
$20,000 |
$22,000 |
$26,400 |
|
Office Supplies |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
$11,000 |
$17,000 |
|
Maintenance of Parks |
$110,000 |
$110,000 |
$110,000 |
$121,000 |
$120,000 |
|
Gasoline and Diesel Oil |
$300,000 |
$330,000 |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$460,000 |
|
Tree Operations |
$85,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$120,000 |
|
Equipment |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$17,500 |
$17,500 |
|
Highway and Traffic Supplies |
$32,000 |
$32,000 |
$36,000 |
$40,000 |
$60,000 |
|
Total |
$8,076,388 |
$9,050,721 |
$9,970,506 |
$11,095,563 |
$11,382,122 |
DPU Water Treatment
The water treatment budget of $6,544,196 is a $344,458, or 5.56 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
|
Account Name |
2021 Approval |
2022 Approval |
2023 Approval |
2024 Approval |
2025 Approval |
|
Commissioner of Public Utilities |
$23,703 |
$25,897 |
$27,851 |
$30,121 |
$31,055 |
|
Business Manager |
- |
$20,000 |
$21,126 |
$22,681 |
$23,816 |
|
City Engineer |
- |
$21,618 |
$23,704 |
$22,182 |
$23,292 |
|
Water Superintendent |
$70,813 |
$66,257 |
$68,244 |
$73,567 |
$77,588 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
$20,606 |
$21,491 |
$22,135 |
$27,135 |
$25,858 |
|
Working Foreman |
$63,991 |
$55,194 |
$56,850 |
$61,284 |
$64,633 |
|
Working Foreman/ Mach Repairman |
- |
- |
$50,000 |
$59,810 |
$62,903 |
|
Sr. Civil Engineer |
$32,875 |
$33,368 |
$34,369 |
$37,050 |
$39,075 |
|
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Person |
$184,117 |
$188,532 |
$194,188 |
$208,034 |
$206,373 |
|
GIS Coordinator |
$32,875 |
$33,368 |
$34,369 |
$37,050 |
$39,075 |
|
Water Mach. Repairman |
$89,518 |
$85,990 |
$88,570 |
$150,000 |
$139,587 |
|
Chief TPO Non-Shift |
$63,991 |
$66,737 |
$68,739 |
$127,763 |
$134,746 |
|
TPO Non-Shift |
$266,646 |
$351,786 |
$362,340 |
$234,261 |
$247,025 |
|
Meter Reader |
$42,477 |
$42,656 |
$43,936 |
$45,843 |
$47,997 |
|
Seasonal Labor |
$38,400 |
$40,000 |
$30,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
|
Overtime |
$95,000 |
$95,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Contractual Allowances |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$12,650 |
$15,000 |
|
Utilities |
$375,000 |
$375,000 |
$300,000 |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
|
Taxes |
$160,000 |
$160,000 |
$160,000 |
$178,000 |
$200,000 |
|
Maintenance |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$275,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Contractual Services |
$230,000 |
$230,000 |
$230,000 |
$295,000 |
$295,000 |
|
Professional Services |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$230,000 |
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
|
Supplies |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
|
Chemicals |
$300,000 |
$300,000 |
$300,000 |
$800,000 |
$800,000 |
|
Maturing Debt |
$1,167,208 |
$1,111,682 |
$1,202,054 |
$1,301,813 |
$1,576,909 |
|
Interest on Debt |
$535,041 |
$539,453 |
$553,364 |
$771,060 |
$845,146 |
|
Short-term Debt Issuance |
$120,000 |
$200,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Debt Issuance Cost |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Allocation to General Fund |
$930,441 |
$845,253 |
$659,578 |
$609,434 |
$529,118 |
|
Total |
$5,472,703 |
$5,614,281 |
$5,216,417 |
$6,199,738 |
$6,544,196 |
DPU Waste Water
The waste water budget of $10,977,109 is a $16,583, or 0.15 percent, decrease from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with little discussion.
|
Account Name |
2021 Approval |
2022 Approval |
2023 Approval |
2024 Approval |
2025 Approval |
|
Commissioner of Public Works |
$23,703 |
$25,897 |
$27,851 |
$30,121 |
$31,055 |
|
Sewer Superintendent |
$72,760 |
$75,882 |
$78.16 |
$84,254 |
$88,860 |
|
Business Manager |
- |
$20,000 |
$21,126 |
$22,681 |
$23,816 |
|
City Engineer |
- |
$21,618 |
$23,704 |
$22,182 |
$23,292 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
$20,606 |
$21,491 |
$22,136 |
$27,135 |
$25,858 |
|
Work Foreman Water Machine Repairmen |
$56,041 |
$58,271 |
$60,019 |
$64,701 |
$68,237 |
|
Sr. Civil Engineer |
$32,875 |
$33,368 |
$34,369 |
$37,050 |
$39,075 |
|
Chemist |
$65,750 |
$66,737 |
$68,739 |
$74,100 |
$78,150 |
|
GIS Coordinator |
$32,875 |
$33,368 |
$34,369 |
$37,050 |
$39,075 |
|
Water Machine Repairmen |
$176,975 |
$188,200 |
$193,846 |
$189,181 |
$192,082 |
|
Lab Technicians |
$87,092 |
$90,680 |
$93,400 |
$107,756 |
$112,946 |
|
Chief TPO Shift |
$57,410 |
$59,874 |
$61,670 |
$66,478 |
$70,113 |
|
Head TPO Shift |
$531,050 |
$596,365 |
$614,256 |
$652,990 |
$640,299 |
|
TPO Shift |
$139,629 |
$134,117 |
$138,141 |
$176,656 |
$171,845 |
|
Head TPO Float Shift |
$49,972 |
$50,653 |
$51,173 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Electrician |
$57,410 |
$59,874 |
$61,670 |
$61,670 |
$65,000 |
|
Seasonal Labor |
$38,400 |
$40,000 |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
|
Overtime |
$95,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Contractual Allowances |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$16,200 |
$15,000 |
|
Utilities |
$700,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
|
Chemical Process |
$300,000 |
$580,000 |
$600,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$900,000 |
|
Maintenance |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$300,000 |
$330,000 |
$330,000 |
|
Sludge Handling |
$400,000 |
$803,300 |
$812,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
|
Contractual Services |
$100,000 |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
|
Professional Services |
$200,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$180,000 |
$130,000 |
|
Supplies |
$40,000 |
$40,000 |
$40,000 |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
|
Maturing Debt |
$1,198,215 |
$2,918,281 |
$3,132,721 |
$3,444,505 |
$3,648,570 |
|
Interest on Debt |
$786,220 |
$1,732,744 |
$1,007,759 |
$1,044,340 |
$1,026,490 |
|
Debt Issuance Costs |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Short-term Debt Interest |
$200,500 |
$200,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Allocation to the General Fund |
$1,009,310 |
$997,530 |
$906,709 |
$819,642 |
$752,346 |
|
Total |
$6,741,794 |
$10,658,249 |
$10,024,816 |
$10,993,692 |
$10,977,109 |
Sewer Enterprise
The sewer enterprise budget of $1,008,169 is a $6,013, or 0.60 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
|
Account Name |
2021 Approval |
2022 Approval |
2023 Approval |
2024 Approval |
2025 Approval |
|
Working Foreman |
$55,874 |
$56,712 |
$58,413 |
$62,969 |
$66,411 |
|
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Persons |
$185,928 |
$177,896 |
$183,233 |
$181,831 |
$197,224 |
|
Wtr./Swr. Laborer |
- |
$75,000 |
$77,250 |
$81,356 |
$84,534 |
|
Overtime |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Contractual Allowances |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$6,000 |
$10,000 |
|
Utilities |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$40,000 |
|
Maintenance |
$40,000 |
$40,000 |
$40,000 |
$45,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Stormwater Services |
$30,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
|
Contractual Services |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$400,000 |
$350,000 |
$350,000 |
|
Mains and Manhole Supplies |
$15,000 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
$110,000 |
$80,000 |
|
Total |
$816,802 |
$1,039,608 |
$1,048,896 |
$1,002,156 |
$1,008,169 |
Tags: fiscal 2025, pittsfield_budget,
