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Pittsfield amends ARPA order to fund comprehensive plan update and cushion 2025 budget shortfall
Summary
The council approved an amended order to obligate $172,000 in fiscal recovery funds: up to $50,000 for a comprehensive plan update and the remainder as a budgetary offset to ease a six‑month 2025 budget shortfall tied to the Main Street project, after council debate about paving and timing.
The Pittsfield Town Council on Dec. 17 amended and approved Order 24‑9 to obligate $172,000 in state and local fiscal recovery (ARPA) funds.
Town staff told the council the funds must be obligated by the end of the month and spent by the end of 2026. Staff recommended using up to $50,000 to update the town’s comprehensive plan — last completed in 2013 and due for the 10‑year update — and dedicating the remaining funds to paving projects or as a budgetary offset to the town’s six‑month 2025 budget shortfall related to the Main Street project.
“There's $172,000 that needs to be obligated by the end of this month and then spent by the end of 2026,” Jacob said, explaining the time constraints and the recommended allocation.
Councilors debated whether to earmark the remainder for paving projects, to offset the anticipated tax impact of the Main Street project next year, or to leave specific uses flexible. One councilor urged using the funds to smooth taxpayer impact from the Main Street project: “it might be a better way to utilize the funds for people into the transition of doing this,” a councilor said, arguing for budgetary relief rather than strict earmarks for paving.
After discussion a councilor moved to amend the order to allocate up to $50,000 for an updated comprehensive plan and to designate remaining monies as a budgetary offset for the six‑month 2025 budget (ending June 30, 2025). The amendment was seconded and approved by voice vote; the amended order was then approved.
Staff noted that unspent allocated funds could be redirected per the order’s language (for example, unused comprehensive‑plan funds could move toward paving or other allowed uses within the ARPA guidelines) and confirmed the town may use recovery funds as a budgetary offset under current guidance.
Next steps: staff will prepare the RFP/materials for the comprehensive plan update and implement the amended order’s obligation of funds; the council can revisit exact spending as bids and cost estimates are received.
The council recorded the decision by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
