Stockbridge — The town’s new agreement with its neighbor, West Stockbridge, to ultimately share fire and emergency services (EMS) is taking center stage as the town reviews its upcoming budget.
Stockbridge Town Administrator Michael Canales, who was instrumental in negotiating the program, presented an initial draft of the town’s operating capital budget for fiscal year 2026 to its Select Board on February 26. The proposal incorporates the first step toward enhancing those services, including constructing a new fire station. The unification of services between the two municipalities is slated to be complete by fiscal year 2028.
Although the fiscal 2026 overall town budget of about $13.2 million shows a general fund increase of 8.6 percent, or about $1 million, over fiscal 2025, Canales said that uptick “is misleading.” According to Canales, after factoring in additional revenues and reimbursements, the net increase in the general fund budget is 3.85 percent, while the net increase in the town’s operating budget (excluding education) is 2.59 percent year over year.
Pursuant to the shared fire and EMS services agreement that will be fully operational in July 2027, the towns will split interim costs, including increased firefighter staff for extended daily coverage. Stockbridge will assume 60 percent of those costs and West Stockbridge will contribute 40 percent, or about $103,000 in additional revenues to Stockbridge in the upcoming fiscal year.
A new $478,000 ambulance is part of the agreement and constitutes a portion of Stockbridge’s capital budget.
Additionally, Stockbridge will assume ownership of the Five Town Building Department, Canales said, with department staff coming under the town’s employee budget. However, Stockbridge will be reimbursed by the remaining participating towns—Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, and West Stockbridge—for each proportional share of their services, leaving a net cost to the town of $84,000.
On the downside, the fiscal 2026 budget is also subject to a 16 percent increase in the cost of health insurance and a 6.6 percent increase in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District assessment.
When factoring these $587,000 of additional revenues and reimbursements—including about $103,000 from West Stockbridge pursuant to its shared Fire and EMS agreement—the actual budget increase is 3.85 percent, Canales said. “This budget ensures the continued delivery of high-quality public services that our residents, business owners, and visitors expect,” he stated.
Property taxes are estimated to bring in about $10 million, representing a four percent increase, or about $396,000, year over year. Local receipts are estimated to account for about $3 million in revenue, or about $587,000, year over year.
Canales said the town “has historically underestimated local receipts” but has been more on target in recent years, with those projections decreasing the amount of available free cash that is estimated to tally about $2.5 million in fiscal 2026.
State aid is estimated to increase in fiscal 2026 by about six percent, or about $13,000. “New growth projections have been conservatively estimated,” Canales stated. “If realized growth exceeds these projections, it will provide additional financial flexibility.”
See budget documents here and here, courtesy of the Town of Stockbridge.
The dais discussed special projects including budgeting to install a Revolutionary War Monument on the town green and repair other local monuments, a program partially funded with $33,500 of Community Preservation Commission monies that Select Board member Patrick White said he hoped would be complemented with $60,000 of free cash funds. Chair Jamie Minacci commented that those funds would draw down all of the free cash account, with White responding that building funds could be used as well.
Other projects discussed include funding a mausoleum, with that program to be tackled in the following fiscal year; setting aside funds for a July 4, 2026, celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary; and adding pickleball courts that could double as an ice-skating rink in the winter.
