Panel tables CPC seat, weighs school-cost fight
Finance Committee · Meeting of September 23, 2026
Great Barrington's Finance Committee hears warning that school costs could consume 83.5 percent of its budget by 2030. Consultant Patrick White, a former Stockbridge Select Board member, told the committee Great Barrington's regional school assessment is currently $22.4 million against $4 million for Stockbridge and $3.6 million for West Stockbridge, and proposed a "wealth floor" compromise to the three-town funding formula. Vice Chair Jeffrey S.
Rothenberg pressed White on a data discrepancy over second-home ownership rates, while member Doug Robbins said the town has heard nothing on a stalled $1.2 million procurement audit tied to the Prosperity Avenue project. The committee voted 5-0 twice to approve back minutes and voted 5-0 by roll call to again table appointment of its Community Preservation Committee representative. Member Michelle Loubert said flatly of the town's finances, "We have no money."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,434 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of September 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Keep reading with a 30-day free trial
Subscribe to Great Barrington News to keep reading this post and get 30 days of free access to the full post archives.
Starting a trial requires a payment method. After 30 free days your subscription begins at the price shown at checkout and renews automatically until you cancel. You can cancel anytime from your account. Subscription terms
A subscription gets you:
- Subscriber-only posts and full archive
- Post comments and join the community
- 24x7 access to local news