When contacted by The Berkshire Edge, SBREA President Andrew Rapport, who is also a social studies teacher at Mount Everett Middle School, disputed many of the details in a press release published on behalf of Superintendent Beth Regulbuto regarding the contract negotiations.
It does appear that a generational challenge is in the offing for the Nov. 6 elections. A flyer distributed throughout the district refers to a "clean slate for SBRSD school committee" and flatly states that "the candidates support the right of all the towns to have their elementary schools."
“We are charting a new course that recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the un-served towns in Western Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute will therefore be moving to a more flexible approach.”
-- Peter Larkin, new chair of Massachusetts Broadband Institute
“We’ve brought music to town and business to town. People are now coming to this side of Main Street. We’ve done a lot to help this town."
--- Keith Weller, patriarch of the Gypsy Joynt gypsies
The accountant's report will be submitted to the town at the Selectboard’s Wednesday night public hearing to determine whether to issue a special permit that will allow Vijay and Chrystal Mahida and 79 Bridge Street, LLC to demolish most of the Searles school for construction of an upscale hotel, The Berkshire.
According to calculations by Finance Committee Chairman Michael Wise, progressive property tax reform would cut 11 to 20 percent off the property tax bills of 80 percent of the town’s households.
Affordability is the challenge. In relation to income, property taxes in Great Barrington are also higher than elsewhere in Berkshire County. Incomes in Great Barrington appear to be in the mid-range among its Berkshire County peers and neighbors, about equal to the state average and above the Berkshire County average.
“I do have a problem with anyone questioning the validity and accuracy of our numbers. We are meticulous, we have the highest credit rating that is enviable to any town. I strongly object to any incorrect implication about the accuracy of the numbers. We are following what we’re required to do from the Department of Revenue, which is not a private sector business, and we are also offering open books, full transparency.”
-- Great Barrington Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin
