Pittsfield Council Adds Funding for Council Education in FY27 Budget

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the third day of budget hearings, the City Council preliminarily passed all but its own budget, requesting that Mayor Peter Marchetti restore some funds to the education and training line. 

The proposed operating budget for Pittsfield in fiscal year 2027 is $232,782,090, a 2.9 percent increase from this year. Marchetti compared that to hikes in fixed costs: a 9 percent increase in health insurance, a 7 percent increase in debt service, and more than a 5 percent increase in retirement contributions. 

See the first two days of budget review here.

Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso's motion to reduce the $3,190 training line by $1,500 failed. Councilors instead asked that the $1,430 cut from reimbursements for the Massachusetts Municipal Association conference be restored. 

This would bring the proposed FY27 budget of $107,832 to $109,262, level with FY26. Marchetti has agreed to the addition. 

"I can remember having to basically sleep in a windowsill the first year I was councilor because I didn't have enough money in my campaign account, and the job I had at the time, I could not afford nights in Boston," Councilor at Large Pete White remembered. 

He and other councilors said the knowledge and networking from the annual weekend-long event in turn allows them to serve Pittsfield residents better. 

"I don't think any of us are up here asking for more pay. But I think it's important that we have a council that is educated and has the opportunity to learn more," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said. 

"And as somebody that has been to the conference multiple times, I've seen myself learn and bring it back to the constituents, and I've also seen colleagues learn new information and bring it back. It's a great resource for veteran councilors. It's a really great resource for new councilors, and I just wouldn't want to take that opportunity away from anybody, and most importantly, from our constituents."

Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said the conference cost her nearly $500, but the knowledge she brought home could be put to immediate use. 

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said it is important to ensure that city government is accessible to people of all income levels and from all backgrounds. 

"If you hope to see younger people, if you hope to see people of different backgrounds up here rather than people who have the time on their hands to, who are retired. I mean, how many of the councilors are retired?" Cunningham asked. 

"If you want young blood, if you want people from different backgrounds, you've got to raise how much it's paid to be worth the time." 

When Amuso motioned to cut $1,500, she pointed to the reductions that other city departments have made, explaining that everyone has taken a "pretty big hit." 

She and Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn supported the reduction. Amuso and Cunningham opposed sending the budget back and requesting that $1,430 be added. 

Marchetti pointed out that he created the line item to allow officials to have their admission to the MMA conference covered, as well as one night in a hotel. 

"Because for maybe the first 10 years of me being a councilor, the entire trip was on me, but I saw the value in going to the program, and not only going to the sessions, but also the networking," he said, explaining that he had the resources to reach out to when Pittsfield was grappling with large issues, such as its trash system. 

 "…If there's a request to restore, I will restore."

Councilors are paid $8,000 per year, and the president is paid $10,000. It was pointed out that the salary hasn't changed in decades. 

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said if they earned what they did in 1984, when salaries were last raised, it would be $25,000 today. 

"I am going to support it, and anybody that has an issue with me supporting a $1,400 item to raise, anybody in the city, I will have that conversation with you," he said. 
 

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Information Technology

The IT budget of $1,707,183.00 was preliminarily approved. It is a $105,086, or 6.6 percent, increase from the previous year. 

City Solicitor

The City Solicitor's budget of $266,683 was preliminarily approved.  It is a $74,487, or 21.8 percent, decrease from the previous year. 
 

City Clerk 

The City Clerk's budget of $478,212 was preliminarily approved.  It is a $34,736, or 7.8 percent, increase from the previous year. 
 

City Building Maintenance

The City Building Maintenance budget of $2,129,471 was preliminarily approved.  It is a $110,755, or 4.9 percent decrease from the previous year. 
 

School Building Maintenance

The School Building Maintenance budget of $478,212 was preliminarily approved.  It is a $34,736, or 7.8 percent increase from the previous year. 

Health Department 

The Health Department budget of $728,090 was preliminarily approved.  It is a $2,793, or 0.4 percent decrease from the previous year. 
 

City Council 

The City Council budget of $107,832 was sent back to the mayor with the recommendation to restore around $1,400 in reimbursement funds for the MMA conference. 

Workers Compensation 

The Workers' Compensation budget of $87,200,061 was preliminarily approved. It is a $749,700, or .9 percent increase from the previous year. 

Finance and Administration 

The Finance and Administration budget of $1,543,184 was preliminarily approved. It is a $78,802, or 5.4 percent increase from the previous year. 

Unclassified 

The $72,826,968.00 unclassified budget was preliminarily approved. It is a $4,804,602, or 7 percent, increase from the previous year. 

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