GREAT BARRINGTON — The Finance Committee and Selectboard will hold a series of joint budget meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Feb. 1, 2, 8, and 9, to begin assembling next year’s spending plans. A public hearing on the complete proposed FY23 budget is set for Tuesday, March 1.
During each of its budget meetings, the two boards take up specific town departments’ operating budgets. So, for instance, residents who are interested in parks or highway projects, libraries, public safety or capital planning can decide which meetings to join. The public is invited to check the agenda for each session, and other meeting details, on the town calendar. Most meetings begin at 6 p.m., with the exception of the February 1 meeting, which will start at 7 p.m.
Town Manager Mark Pruhenski said this will be the second year in a row the town has held its budget planning sessions virtually. Last year the Zoom format (adopted due to the pandemic) drew more meeting attendees than the usual in-person meetings of years past.
“Last year, more people in town were better informed about how our town spends taxpayer money,” said Pruhenski. “While the budget is subject to Annual Town Meeting approval, that meeting runs more smoothly when more people have prepared by joining one or all of our meetings.”
