Times have changed, but the formula remains stuck in 1949. The wealth disparities between neighboring towns simply did not exist at anything like their current scale. The founders of the regional school system could not have foreseen the inequity their formula has imposed on most towns today.
Local business leaders, innovators, educators, and town and state officials, say that Broadband — also called high-speed, high-capacity Internet connectivity –– is deemed critical for the Berkshires economy to stay afloat and expand.
Great Barrington Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin said it will soon be a question of whether to continue the pilot bioremediation, cap the site, or do a combination of both. State Rep. Pignatelli said that it would be “great” if the pilot cleanup worked. “If not, we move on to the next thing.”
"I’m not surprised the bill [reform of payment in lieu of taxes requirements] met its demise. There is scant enthusiasm to compel nonprofit and charitable organizations to pay taxes either in whole, or in part."
-- Great Barrington Assessor Christopher Lamarre
“This is a clash of economic concerns with educational concerns. It’s going to be an ongoing theme. At what point does it get too expensive?"
--Carl Stewart, chairman of the Southern Berkshire Regional School Committee
