Welcome to the Town of Great Barrington’s FY27 Budget Planning webpage.

This page serves as the central location for information related to the development of the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget. As the budget process moves forward, this page will be updated regularly with the most current materials, including planning guidance, key milestones, public meeting schedules, budget documents, and opportunities for community engagement.

The FY27 budget reflects the Town’s commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship, service excellence, and long-term planning. Budget development is guided by the Financial Policy adopted by the Select Board and Finance Committee and aligned with the Select Board’s FY26–27 Strategic Priorities. Together, these frameworks ensure that resources are allocated thoughtfully, transparently, and in a manner that supports the community’s needs today while planning for the future.

Residents are encouraged to visit this page throughout the budget cycle to stay informed, review materials as they become available, and follow the budget’s progression from early planning through Town Meeting consideration.

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FY27 Budget Action Calendar

The FY27 Budget Action Calendar outlines key milestones in the Town’s budget development process. This calendar is a working document and will continue to evolve as new information becomes available, including updates related to service needs, revenue estimates, assessments, and policy decisions. Dates may shift as the process progresses, and adjustments will be reflected here to ensure the most current information is available.

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to check back regularly for updates as the FY27 budget moves from planning through review and Town Meeting consideration.

To view the most recent FY27 Budget Calendar, dated December 11, 2025, Please click here or the image below.

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FY27 Budget & Financial Policy

The FY27 Budget & Financial Policy, adopted by the Select Board and Finance Committee on December 15, 2025, outlines how the Town of Great Barrington plans, evaluates, and manages its financial resources during the FY27 budget process.

This policy explains the principles that guide budget decisions including how the Town balances service needs, infrastructure investments, affordability, and long-term financial stability. It provides residents with a clear understanding of how financial decisions are made and how community priorities are reflected in the Town’s budget.

The policy is used throughout the year as the Town develops and reviews the operating and capital budget, helping ensure transparency, consistency, and responsible stewardship of public funds.

Why This Matters

The Budget & Financial Policy helps ensure that your tax dollars are used thoughtfully and responsibly. It sets expectations for how the Town plans for essential services, maintains roads and facilities, invests in public safety and community well-being, and prepares for future needs all while keeping affordability and long-term stability in focus.

By following this policy, the Town works to make budget decisions that are clear, consistent, and aligned with the priorities of the Great Barrington community.

To view the FY27 Budget & Financial Policy, please click here or the image below.

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FY27 Budget Guidance & Departmental Directives

The Budget Guidance outlines the formal direction issued by the Town Manager to municipal departments for the preparation of the Town of Great Barrington’s FY27 operating and capital budget. It establishes clear expectations, standards, timelines, and submission requirements designed to ensure a thoughtful, consistent, and accountable budgeting process.

For FY27, the guidance places an increased emphasis on clear explanation, justification, and alignment. Departments are required to demonstrate not only what resources they are requesting, but why those resources are needed, what outcomes they support, and how they advance the Select Board’s FY26–27 Strategic Priorities. This includes stronger connections between funding decisions and priorities such as infrastructure stewardship, public health and safety, housing, sustainability, economic development, and effective municipal service delivery.

The guidance is grounded in the Budget & Financial Policy adopted by the Select Board and Finance Committee and reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen transparency, consistency, and long-range planning. By requiring departments to articulate service impacts, performance expectations, and funding strategies, the Town aims to ensure that budget decisions are well-reasoned, fiscally responsible, and aligned with community goals.

To view the FY27 Budget Guidance & Directives, please click here or the image below.

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FY26 Review & FY27 Forecast – Presentation Overview

The FY26 Review & FY27 Forecast presentation provides a comprehensive look at the Town of Great Barrington’s financial position, the pressures shaping the FY27 budget, and the policy-driven approach guiding future decisions.

This presentation is designed to move beyond a year-end financial snapshot and instead tell the story of how the Town plans for long-term sustainability. It explains how revenues are collected and spent, how financial policies and strategic priorities guide budgeting, and how the Town is working to balance service delivery with fiscal responsibility.

Key topics include:

• The Town’s layered budgeting approach, combining policy, performance, program, and line-item frameworks

• A review of FY26 financial results and trends

• An explanation of Free Cash, debt levels, and capital obligations

• The Town Manager’s FY27 budget objectives

• Capital planning and funding strategies

• Revenue and expense trends

• Budget scenarios and the path forward

Together, these elements demonstrate how Great Barrington is aligning financial decisions with long-term community goals while protecting taxpayers and essential services.

Click here or the image below to view the February 3, 2026 FY26 Budget Review and FY27 Budget Forecast Presentation presented by Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove, Assistant Town Manager Chris Rembold and Town Accountant Allison Crespo to the Selectboard and Finance Committee.