Berkshires Awarded Fair Share Amendment Grants

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Berkshires Awarded Fair Share Amendment Grants 
 
BOSTON - The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that it is delivering a total of $100 million to the state's 351 cities and towns to support local infrastructure. 
 
The awards come from revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment.  
 
In Berkshire County:
 
Adams: $164,272 
Becket: $152,417 
Cheshire: $122,439 
Clarksburg: $44,745 
Dalton: $120,797
Egremont: $97,200  
Florida: $106,215
Great Barrington: $229,932
Hancock: $41,765 
Hinsdale: $97,435
Lanesborough: $132,353
Lee: $162,458 
Lenox: $154,189
Monterey: $128,942 
Mount Washington $46,244 
New Ashford: $28,124
New Marlborough: $223,334 
North Adams: $221,622  
Otis: $114,172 
Peru: $94,180
Pittsfield: $657,293
Richmond: $105,554  
Sandisfield: $215,178  
Savoy: $130,337
Sheffield $223,494 
Stockbridge: $119,251 
Tyringham: $68,187
Washington $112,132 
West Stockbridge: $97,267 
Williamstown: $160,575
Windsor: $165,000
 
"Our administration said from day one that we were going to make sure that Fair Share revenue was used to improve transportation and education for our communities, as the voters intended," said Governor Maura Healey. "This funding is particularly impactful because we are empowering cities and towns to decide how to use it to address their unique needs. We are grateful to the Legislature for making this funding available and look forward to seeing how the municipalities will use it to strengthen their communities."  
 
Letters have been sent to each municipality certifying that community's Fair Share apportionment for Fiscal Year 2024. The Fair Share Amendment funds are being distributed according to two formulas. The first $50 million is being distributed using the traditional Chapter 90 formula based on local road mileage (58.33 percent), population (20.83 percent), and employment (20.83 percent). The second $50 million is being distributed using a formula based on each municipality's share of road mileage. 
 
Each community is receiving a different total amount according to how the two formulas apportion the money.
 
Communities may use Fair Share revenue for construction, preservation, and improvement projects that create or extend the life of capital facilities. This includes costs for highway projects and pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Projects that are eligible would include installing sidewalks, bicycle lanes, new pavement, sidewalks, retaining walks, crossing signals, and other transportation infrastructure features.  

Tags: grants,   infrastructure improvements,   

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Dalton Fire District Approves Tentative Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's Prudential Committee approved an anticipated budget of more than three million during its meeting last week. 
 
The district's projected budget amounts to $3,569,222.44, comprising the budgets for the commissioner, treasurer, Water Department, and Fire and Ambulance services. This is an increase of $44,542.44
 
The Board of Water Commissioners voted to recommend utilizing $375,000 from the funds raised by the ambulance to offset the amount to appropriate. 
 
The district's Board of Water Commissioners and Prudential Committee collaborated during the budgeting process to mitigate increases. 
 
The Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services' budgets total is forecast at $1,847,512, a decrease of $26,096. 
 
The department initially requested a budget of $2,052,512. However, the board voted last week to remove Articles 22 through 24, which amounted to $205,000 in spending, until its free cash is certified.  
 
Article 22 requested $80,000 to create an apparatus replacement fund. 
 
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