Mayor Linda Tyer presents her budget to the City Council on Tuesday. The budget presentations can be found here:  Day 1;  Day 2;  Day 3; Day 4; and Day 5.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council approved a $205 million operating budget for fiscal 2024 on Tuesday.

The $205,584,497 spending plan is almost $17 million, or 8.9 percent, higher than this year's budget of $188,822,018.

It breaks down into $109,300,895 for city operations, $78,088,016 for the School Department, and $18,195,586 for the enterprise which includes the Department of Public Utilities water treatment, sewer, and wastewater.

Included is a $50,000 reduction to the Worker's Compensation budget for medical payments that was approved on the second day of hearings.

Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio voted in opposition.

The budget survived many failed reductions and amendments at its final approval.

Kalinowsky unsuccessfully motioned to reduce the Department of Public Services budget by $61,884, targeting an additional working foreman position. She also unsuccessfully motioned to suggest that the water and sewer rate increases be lessened.

Kronick unsuccessfully motioned to reduce the councilors' educational fund by $4,620 and the entire Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion. He also unsuccessfully motioned to reduce health insurance by $1.5 million and move it to free cash.

The councilor sparked controversy last year with his comments about the office of DEI, with some being labeled as "transphobic."

This year, he reiterated his argument that the department is costly and does not have a substantial impact on the city.

"I think anyone who needs to question the value of this department needs to go listen to Director [Michael Obasohan]'s last appearance on [WTBR's Morning Drive] where Director Obasohan hammered it home why we need this," Councilor at Large Peter White said.

"How much it means to the future of Pittsfield. How much it means to people who see Director Obasohan go into schools and other places knowing that the city cares about diversity, equity and inclusion enough that we do invest in it, enough that we do want to help our employees understand why it needs to be invested in."

Kronick also unsuccessfully motioned to:

• Request that the free cash appropriation is increased to $3 million.
• Request that the mayor reduces the Enterprise Fund Capital Expenditures by $1 million.
• Refer the water and sewer rates back to the mayor with a request to use free cash to stabilize the rate.

Warren unsuccessfully motioned to amend the water and sewer rates to include a clause that allows a homeowner 65 or older who has owned their home for five years or more to submit an application for a water meter installed by the city.

The councilors generally agreed with Warren's motive but did not see this as the solution.

Mayor Linda Tyer reported that a water meter program will be ready in July and around 350 households are eligible

The approved budget motions:

• 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal years 2024-2028. The plan invests more than $308 million in capital projects for roadway quality, parks and recreation, city and school facility improvement, safe and functional vehicles and equipment, and modern information technology.  Included in the plan is $1 million for improvements to the Taconic High School track, which is widely supported by the community.
   
• To raise and appropriate $205,584,497.00 to fund the city's operating budget for the fiscal 2024.
   
• To appropriate $1,000,000 from certified free cash to reduce the fiscal 2024 tax rate.
   
• To borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $10,648,000 for General Fund Capital Expenditures  to conduct capital improvement projects and to pay the costs of purchasing the various items of capital equipment.
   
• To borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $14,445,000 for Enterprise Fund Capital Expenditures, which is to pay the costs of conducting the capital improvement projects and to pay the costs of purchasing the various items of capital equipment.
   
• To transfer and appropriate $280,000 from the Public Works Stabilization Fund to the Department of Public Services to purchase equipment.
   
• The use of the city's current revolving funds totaling $147,000.
   
• To appropriate $220,500 for parking-related expenditures.
   
• To establish the water and sewer rates for fiscal 2024, which are a 12 percent water rate increase and a 25 percent sewer rate increase.

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