West Stockbridge approves FY2027 budget, school assessment and multiple capital purchases at May 4 town meeting

West Stockbridge voters approved the town's FY2027 spending plan and a slate of capital and special appropriations at the Annual Town Meeting on May 4, 2026.

The meeting approved the town's general government, public-safety, public-works, human-services and culture-and-recreation budgets for FY2027, along with a $3,961,550 operating assessment for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District and an $18,527 capital assessment for the district. Motions on those articles were moved, seconded and approved, according to the minutes.

The meeting also approved several capital and special-article requests: $315,400 to purchase a replacement Department of Public Works truck (Article 26), $88,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) replacements for the Fire Department (Article 27), and $400,000 for a Rescue 3 mini-pumper (Article 28). The minutes record that those three articles required two-thirds votes and that motions on each were moved, seconded and approved.

Smaller appropriations approved from certified free cash included $11,000 for short-term-rental bylaw management software (Article 22), $18,205 as the town share of a grant for a handicap-accessible Tri-Town Connector van (Article 23), and $7,250 toward repairs at the Lee Animal Control dog kennel (Article 24). The meeting also approved a $20,000 appropriation for replacement fire hose nozzles (Article 25), and transfers of $35,025 each to the General Stabilization Fund and the Capital Stabilization Fund (Articles 29 and 30).

Community Preservation Fund appropriations recommended by the Community Preservation Committee were approved, including $14,099 for intergenerational playground upgrades and $24,250 for electrical and alarm work at Old Town Hall (Article 33). The minutes show the mandatory housing reserve and other CPA reserves were set in the article.

Departmental enterprise budgets for utilities were approved as offsets by user receipts: $256,868 for the Sewer Department (Article 34) and $90,385 for the Water Department (Article 35).

Article 10 asked the town to accept the designation of West Stockbridge as a seasonal community under Massachusetts General Laws c.23B, §32(b). Planning Board Chair Dana Bixby and Affordable Housing Trust Chair Chris Powell spoke in favor of that article; the motion was approved. The minutes do not record roll-call vote tallies; each article is recorded as "Motion made, seconded and approved."

The meeting also fixed salaries for elected officers (Article 11), set revolving-fund spending limits under MGL c.44, §53E½ (Article 36), and authorized a range of routine governance and fiscal powers for town officers (Articles 1', 4', 5' and 8). The minutes note one amendment during the salary article: the two-member Select Board line was amended from $4,000 to $3,500 before the article passed.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted minutes are signed by Veronica Barrett, Town Clerk.