Great Barrington Finance Committee Meeting - June 22, 2026

The Finance Committee of Great Barrington met remotely on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 6:01 PM. All four members (Rayo, Jeff, Michelle, Madonna) were present, establishing a quorum. The meeting featured a lengthy discussion on the town's fiscal challenges, the upcoming town meeting warrant, long-term strategic planning, and committee goals. Town Manager Liz and Assistant Town Manager Allie provided staff input.

Consent Calendar: Approval of Minutes

• Minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting were approved (4-0).
• Minutes from the April 28, 2026 meeting were approved (4-0).
• Minutes from the May 19, 2026 meeting were approved (4-0).
• Member Michelle expressed a personal position that she does not believe members who were not present at a meeting should vote to approve those minutes, noting she has never done so in her experience, though she did not formally abstain or object to the vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• James (84 North Lane Road): Urged the committee to drive significant change, stating that the town's fiscal problems were known for years and were not fully disclosed prior to the new school vote. He advocated for focusing on retaining and supporting local businesses, citing the loss of Nina Paper Company and empty storefronts. He expressed hope the new committee would use its power to push back on spending.
• Jim Bailey (Housatonic): Argued that economic growth is the only solution to the town's problems. He called for the elimination of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), stating, "18 cents on the dollar is not worth it."
• Eileen (Audience Member): Requested that meeting packets and the five-year strategic plan be posted and provided in advance of meetings.

Discussion Items

1. Upcoming Town Meeting Overview and Reflections (Article 2 Set-Aside)

• The committee reviewed the town meeting article regarding a $500,000 set-aside for affordable housing.
• A discrepancy in the article's language was discussed. The committee initially expected the amount would remain in free cash as a "set-aside." Town Manager Liz clarified the Town Council drafted it as an "appropriation," which would fully remove the funds from free cash.
• Rayo stated this distinction is critical, as removing the funds could drop the town below its recommended free cash minimum. He said he would support a set-aside but could not support an appropriation.
• Michelle opposed revisiting the committee's recommendation, arguing that last-minute changes confuse citizens. The committee stood by its previous 4-0 vote not to recommend the article. It was agreed to communicate the nuance of the wording to the Select Board.

2. Five-Year Strategic Plan and Finance Committee Goals

• Town Manager Liz presented a financial strategy built on four pillars: School Assessment, Revenue Growth & Economic Development, Capital/Debt Reform, and Financial Policy. Pillars three and four are directly under the Finance Committee's jurisdiction.
• Liz emphasized the need for clear, early policy direction from the committee to avoid wasted staff effort, referencing the previous budget cycle where vague policy led to a rejected first draft.
• School Budget Discussion:
  • The committee extensively discussed the lack of engagement with the regional school district, which constitutes over 75% of the town's budget.
  • Michelle expressed frustration that the fiscal crisis was not publicized prior to the new school bond vote and strongly opposed a Prop 2 1/2 override for FY28, advocating for service cuts and hiring freezes.
  • Jeff stressed the need to formally engage with the School Committee early in their process, warning the town is in an "untenable financial position" and a favorable vote on the school budget cannot be assumed.
  • Rayo argued the failed override demonstrated a lack of voter trust. He urged the committee to explore all non-property tax revenue options (e.g., parking, personal property tax compliance) to build credibility before asking voters for more.
• Committee Priorities:
  • The committee struggled to finalize specific goals for the summer, but agreed to use the Select Board's strategic priorities as a foundation.
  • Town Manager Liz announced a "Municipal Finance 101" training session scheduled for the committee.

Key Outcomes

• Scheduled Meetings: The committee confirmed its next meeting for July 14, 2026 (6:00 PM, hybrid format) to conduct interviews for the vacant fifth seat. A follow-up meeting was tentatively set for the week of August 11, 2026.
• New Member Recruitment: The application deadline was extended by approximately one week to allow for additional candidates. The committee decided to keep the call for interest open until the July 14 meeting.
• Directives: Town Manager Liz was asked to provide the committee with the Select Board's strategic priorities and the five-year financial strategy from the February budget book. The committee agreed to communicate the distinction between the set-aside and appropriation to the Select Board.
• Policy Focus: The committee committed to a summer work plan focused on drafting a clear financial policy to guide the FY28 budget process, aiming to avoid the issues encountered in the previous cycle.