PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The finance subcommittee recently OK'd a $280,000 transfer to the Department of Public Services for winter maintenance overages with the understanding that the ask may be higher when it goes to the full City Council.

The account is permitted to operate a deficit and has overspent $781,220.  At the time of the request, $501,220 was recovered and the $280,000 will address the rest, with $200,000 coming from the Fire Department and $80,000 from the building maintenance department.

It was explained that the order was about two weeks old and some of the recovered funds had to be diverted to get to the close of the fiscal year on June 30. Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales explained that it is "very, very tight."

"What we would like to do is reserve the right to come back with a new order at the next meeting, having approved this with an understanding or a comment from the committee that there is an understanding that it may come back to the full council with a different figure than the $280,000," Finance Director Matthew Kerwood said..

"It won't be dramatic but it gives us a decent enough breathing room to be able to come back with a solid number so that we're not having to then raise whatever the deficit is, if there is a deficit, on the next year's recap and add it to the next year’s tax rate."

The city has until July 15 to "clean up the books."

He explained that in looking at other departments for turnbacks in fiscal year 2024, there would be sufficient funds from other areas to fill the gap. No more than $100,000 in additional transfers is expected.

"To be clear, at home, there was also an excess deficit of about $800,000, you thought you could cover it from other accounts and you took it out and covered that, then other things came up this spring and summer so you needed that money back," Chair Earl Persip III confirmed so that the audience watching Pittsfield Community Television at home don't think the city is "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Kerwood confirmed, adding, "Whatever came back, we would still be addressing a deficit in winter operations."

Committee member Rhonda Serre wondered if they should stipulate that the city doesn't have to come back to the council if the adjustment is less than $100,000. Still, the subcommittee decided to move forward knowing that there may be a future amendment.

"This comes up every year," Persip said.

"I think it's important when people say 'Well, it didn't really snow.' Well, this line item doesn't cover just the salt and sand in the plow trucks driving down the street. There are a lot of things involved," she said. "You're buying equipment, you are fixing, repairing things."

Morales explained that the city starts spending in the winter maintenance account a couple of months before the first snowfall because it is getting equipment ready. There were about 25 snow events this winter.

"We are purchasing, we are making adjustments, we are preparing our own garage, we have to send, sometimes, our vehicles out," he explained.

"We start buying material as we get closer to be stocked in materials for liquid and for solid road ice melts and then during winter, that’s more of the direct costs. They relate to snow and ice removal, they relate to the treatment of the roads, they relate to gas and diesel, all of that is in there, contractors that we use, road details when needed."

Kerwood said the city has to put forward a budget that covers all of the spending it is looking to have while staying under the levy.

"It’s important," Persip said. "Every year, people kind of forget this conversation took place or are new to this conversation."

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