North Adams council adopts $54.96 million FY2027 budget after hours of debate over reserves, police and IT spending

The North Adams City Council adopted a $54,964,135.99 budget for fiscal year 2027 on June 23 after a lengthy public hearing and several hours of floor debate.

Mayor Jennifer A. Maxi presented the spending plan and told the council the general government portion totals $2,753,014 and that the public-safety budget is proposed at $8,270,460.96. The package includes a $20,947,355 school budget and a $3,686,857 pension contribution. The mayor said the administration is proposing a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for non‑bargaining employees and several reclassifications and targeted investments, including IT infrastructure and record-preservation work.

Supporters said the budget addresses long-standing staffing and equipment shortfalls. "For a long time it was neglected," IT director Mark Pearson said, describing multi‑year investments in security, storage and software that have pushed IT spending higher. Several councilors also defended increases in police and fire pay and staffing as necessary to retain and deploy officers and maintain response capability.

Critics focused on the budgets reliance on reserves and certain large cost increases. Multiple councilors and residents objected to drawing stabilization funds and other one-time accounts to close gaps. The mayor acknowledged the use of reserves and said the administration expects to replenish some accounts through land sales and other receipts; she estimated roughly 1—2 to 2 years of the sale-of-land reserve remain at current rates.

Police funding drew sustained scrutiny. A member of the public, Brian Joseph, cited a roughly 27% increase in the police budget over recent years and asked whether crime has fallen commensurately. Police Chief Mark Bailey said the department has rebuilt staffing after several years of shortfalls, is sending four recruits to the academy, and that property crimes are down while crimes against persons were up in part because of an isolated homicide earlier in the year: "From January until today ... we are up in crimes against person, but we're down 53% in crimes against property," the chief said.

The council also debated a near-47% increase in IT spending over four years. Pearson and the mayor said many costs were one-time infrastructure upgrades or subscriptions necessary to prevent cybersecurity incidents such as ransomware.

Councilors pressed for a near-term review of municipal fees tied to utilities after finance presentations showed the Husky Water Quality District assessment and utility costs rising. Council members highlighted a gap between the district assessment and billed revenue and said adjusting water and sewer rates is the most equitable way to cover utility costs rather than further relying on property-tax dollars.

Votes at a glance

- FY2027 budget adoption (paper 12,585) — Approved by roll-call vote, 8-0; total to be raised by taxation: $54,964,135.99. (See actions list.) - Classification and compensation plan (paper 12,579-1) — Adopted by roll-call vote earlier in the meeting. - Borrowing authorization for combination basin cleaner (vacuum truck) (paper 12,581) — Adopted by roll-call vote; councilors said the purchase is necessary for water/sewer emergency response and that market prices for the truck rose from about $367,000 a prior purchase to roughly $611,000 today.

What happens next

Councilors and the administration said they will return to the finance committee and the full council if final state aid or property-value numbers change, and the mayor signaled the administration will propose fee increases for water, sewer and the transfer station to narrow operating gaps. The council scheduled no formal date for fee proposals; staff said any changes would come back to the council for a public process.

Provenance: This article draws on the mayors FY2027 presentation (budget totals and department summaries), public comments and council debate reported during the June 23 meeting (public hearing start SEG 0041253 through final vote SEG 4402416).