BCAC Offers Free Tax Preparation Services for Eligible Residents

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) is offering free tax preparation services through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for individuals living or working in Massachusetts with a gross income of $67,000 or less. 
 
The program prioritizes seniors, people with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency.
 
The VITA program will operate from Feb. 1, 2025, to April 15, 2025, with in-person tax preparation available by appointment only at multiple locations, including BCAC offices in Pittsfield and North Adams.
 
Participants must bring essential documents such as photo identification, Social Security cards, and relevant tax forms. The program will not accept original documents, but copiers are available at BCAC offices.
 
For appointments and more information, residents can call 413-418-3668 or 413-418-3685 for South and Central Berkshire County and 413-663-3014 for Northern Berkshire County.
 
More details are available at www.bcacinc.org.

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CBRSD School Committee OKs $36M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The 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. 
 
The biggest cause of the increase is from insurances. The district's active health insurance premiums increased by 16 percent; retirees had an increase of 20 percent, and a 3 percent increase in dental, said Gregory Boino, director of finance and operations.
 
Another large increase was for special education transportation costs, which increased $135,000, "and it's just to meet the actual expenditures where we're living right now," Boino said. 
 
The district's Special Education Out of District Tuition line decreased by $214,350 because students are aging out of those out-of-district placements, he said. 
 
The Finance Committee also decreased the other post-employment benefits, or OPEB, amount by $350,000, so next year, the district will be funding it with $50,000, Boino said. 
 
The Finance Committee discussed how there is a deep need for the community to petition the state to change Chapter 70 education aid and rural aid, School Committee member Paul Farella said prior to the budget update. 
 
"The way that they work makes it extremely difficult for us to make a budget that is fair to towns when you have some that have high percentages of assessment and others with negative it can create a sticky situation," he said.
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