The name, from a Victorian slang term meaning “tipsy," is in keeping with the unpretentious approach to wine and the communal, convivial vibe. (Nibbles provided, or BYOF.)
The town’s annual election will be held Tuesday May 12, in an election that could determine a significant change in the focus of town leadership. There are contests for the four open seats on major town boards, two on the Selectboard and two on the Finance Committee. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Town Meeting narrative: Dark doom filled the auditorium like the sky in Harry Potter. I checked my warrant and understood why: we were now entertaining the Finance Committee’s proposed bylaw to receive “regular and special reports and statements” about town and school district finances. The proposed bylaw was the by-product of a Mexican standoff between committee chair Sharon Gregory and the school district over her requests for detailed reports.
Bill seems to be the only candidate to be strongly in support of Michael Wise’s residential exemption tax plan.
Any plan that reduces my taxes will be a real help to me and my family.
Bill represents the interests of young working families in town. He’s willing to discuss the issues with anyone.
In his letter to the editor, Michael Wise writes: “Based on my five years of close involvement in the details of this town’s government, and 40 years of direct involvement in other government and private sector organizations, it’s my judgment that we are unlikely to come up with efficiencies or consolidations that could significantly reduce the town’s budget without making significant cuts in the quality and quantity of public services.”
In his letter to the editor, Bob Norris of Great Barrington writes: "Please join with me in supporting Walter "Bud" Atwood and Eugene "Will" Curletti for Finance Committee, and Sean Stanton and Bill Cooke for the Selectboard."
Contrary to what critics claim, the town’s budget over the last 7 years has only risen at the national inflation rate: about 2 percent. Even more surprising: in real terms -- controlling for inflation -- operating expenses have remained “essentially flat,” according to Finance Committee member Michael Wise.
A residential exemption would cut most property tax bills in town which includes the charge from the school district. Homeowners with homes assessed below around $470,000 would see a progressively lower tax rate, and three-quarters of residences in town fall below that “break-even value.
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
It isn’t fair to sit on the sidelines and say, “Why don’t you cut, why are my taxes so high?” unless you can say what you are willing to do without. Here’s your chance. Come on Tuesday, March 24, and tell us.
It is important “to tell everyone, including the taxpayers, that we have a liability, so they are aware of what the cost of doing business is."
-- Town Accountant/Financial Coordinator Lauren M. Sartori
The original bylaw [defining the responsibilities of the Finance Committee] in the town charter, and adopted in 1974, assigns a budget advisory role to the committee. The new bylaw asks for more from the town and extends the role to the [regional] school district.
“If you’re looking for public documents that are available, we’ll comply with that in a heartbeat. But some of the information you’re looking for takes 6 to 8 hours of research."
-- Berkshire Hills School Committee Chair Stephen Bannon, responding to Sharon Gregory's demand for a different format of detailed school district financial reports
“We were told legally that [the Finance Committee] is an advisory board, and it just seems to me that your advisory capacity is going well beyond the advisory nature and actually trying to set policy.”
-- Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee member Bill Fields
In her letter, Sharon Gregory claims that "strategic resource planning and belt tightening" are preferable to renovation of the high school, and that "programmatic and facilities duplication has not been addressed."
“People are hurting and we need to do something about it, to make our principal source of revenue progressive."
-- Michael Wise, member of the Great Barrington Finance Committee
