Select Board rejects override, backs debt exclusion for FY27
Select Board · Meeting of April 8, 2026
Great Barrington's Select Board voted 4-1 against a Proposition 2½ override, backing a debt exclusion instead to close a $2 million FY27 budget gap. The Finance Committee separately recommended the debt exclusion, 3-1, after Town Manager Liz reported the operating budget had already been cut from $17.7 million to $16,345,834 and capital spending from $5.4 million to about $2.3 million. Both boards approved department budgets including $10,168,937 for general government, $3,238,718 for public safety and $6,803,972 for miscellaneous costs including debt service.
A board member said a $2 million override would add $518 to the average tax bill. Resident Denise Forbes, who said she pays over $14,000 a year in taxes, called the plan unaffordable: "Housatonic has a lot of unwealthy people and they need help."
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,046 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of April 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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