Each year, the town budget is compiled by the Finance Committee, Town Administrator, and Town Accountant by working with the individual department heads, town boards, and committees to capture their expected needs for the coming year. The School Committee votes on its recommended budget separately. Revenues are estimated based on expected receipts developed by the town assessor and estimates (sometimes referred to as “cherry sheet”) of aid from the state government. There are state guidelines about how to estimate, and in some cases, use, revenue. The budget is reviewed by the Town’s Board of Selectmen, which will then vote whether to recommend it to voters for approval at Town Meeting. The overall budget is voted on at Town Meeting by a quorum (at least 100) of residents.
The tax levy limit is assessed at a town level rather than by individual property. As recent sales in your area have occurred, you may have noticed your assessment increase significantly at some point in the past few years. The tax rate per $1,000 has actually decreased each year as the assessments have increased. This means that some homeowners have seen a reduction in their property tax bill if their assessment has not changed significantly from the previous year.
Updates on the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School Construction Project are available on the school’s official website at www.bptech.org/about/msba. Alternatively, from Bristol-Plymouth main page, seach under “About” and “MSBA Project” to find timelines, project updates, and meeting materials.
The Town of Berkley currently holds an A1 bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, reaffirmed in a credit opinion issued on April 11, 2025. This rating reflects the Town’s strong financial position, conservative budgeting practices, and manageable debt profile.
You can view the most recent credit opinion here:
View Berkley’s April 2025 Moody’s Credit Opinion (link to PDF or webpage)
Historical bond ratings for Berkley and other Massachusetts municipalities can be found through the Division of Local Services’ Municipal Finance Trend Dashboard:
👉 Massachusetts DLS Municipal Bond Ratings
You can find your home’s value click here by calling the town assessor’s office at (508) 822-7955
Yes, we have annual audits and completed a wage study in 2024. A market analysis of non-union personnel found many positions to be below the average wages for comparable positions in surrounding towns.
The annual proposed budgets are available here: https://www.townofberkleyma.com/finance-committee/pages/committee-reports-budgets in addition to the resources available under the “documents and presentations” tab of this website. You may also contact the town administrator.
Capital needs and operational needs are considered differently. We can put money aside to fund capital projects as needed or use reserves to fund one-time expenses. Operational needs, such as personnel and personnel-related costs, are those that occur predictably and consistently throughout the year and are funded with our operating revenues. Our operating revenues and expenses must equal zero each year and is how we consider the budget to be “balanced.” There are also considerations like grants which make funds available for different capital purchases, and we try and take advantage of those when possible.
Each department’s budget is likely to change throughout the year based on actual needs, just as your own household budget might. At the end of the year, excess funds not spent are “returned” to the town and become part of our “free cash” balance. Excess revenues that we may not have expected are also added to free cash. Voters at town meeting can decide to allocate free cash as recommended, typically to pay for expenses that exceeded budget like snow & ice removal or to save for capital projects or other town obligations.
Yes. At the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, voters approved the creation of a Senior Tax Work-Off Program. This program will allow eligible senior residents to volunteer in exchange for a reduction on their property tax bill. The details of the program—including eligibility requirements, the application process, and available opportunities—are currently being developed. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
In addition, senior property tax exemptions may be available depending on your age, income, and assets. We encourage you to contact the Assessors’ Office at (508) 822-7955 to review your individual circumstances and determine which programs you may qualify for.
Yes, the budget is voted on by the town residents at Town Meeting every year. If revenues from other sources are identified, we can propose an underride to reduce the property tax levy.
The developers have formally withdrawn their interest in the Myricks Street properties at this time, and the proposed warehouse development is no longer moving forward.
While this project was expected to generate new tax revenue, the Town remains committed to exploring future economic development opportunities. Public input will be an important part of this process, and the Town will continue working with residents, boards, and regional partners to chart a responsible and community-driven path forward for development in Berkley.
Division of Local Services offers a wealth of information and can provide Berkley’s figures with helpful comparisons to other municipalities. The data can be found here.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/municipal-finance-trend-dashboard
The District begins budget planning for the coming year in late fall. Initially, the budget is based on “level service,” meaning all current programs and services are carried forward without changes, including contractual and estimated service increases.
School and district leaders then compile a list of needs aligned with the district’s Strategic Plan. The District’s Finance Team reviews and refines these lists to support Berkley Public Schools’ mission of providing each student with a learning experience that fosters a community of belonging, creates a culture of care, and promotes academic excellence.
Simultaneously, District leaders collaborate with town officials and other departments to understand their challenges within the constraints of Proposition 2 ½. The School Committee reviews and votes on the final proposed budget in the spring before it is presented at the annual town meeting.
Proposition 2 ½ was enacted as a state law in 1980. It means that the total town’s property tax levy cannot exceed 2.5% of the town’s total property assessed valuation and that the annual property tax levy cannot grow as a whole by more than 2.5% each year except for “new growth.” New growth can mean properties that increased in assessed valuation because of development, exempt real property returned to the tax roll, new personal property, and new subdivision parcels and condominium conversions. New growth is only for one year, and then the property is added to the base of the tax levy and becomes part of the basis for next year’s 2.5% increase. An override to Proposition 2 ½ means that the town will vote to allow the maximum amount collected from property taxes to increase more than 2 ½%.
The cost of education is rising, and Berkley, a small community, does not see significant yearly tax revenue increases. With the 2.5% cap, the town struggles to support PK-8 growth while funding assessments for Somerset-Berkley High School, Bristol-Plymouth High School, and Bristol Agricultural High School.
The Chapter 70 State Aid formula and Net School Spending requirements need revision for better school and community funding. The Student Opportunity Act increases foundation rates in five areas: benefits, guidance services, special education tuition, English learners, and low-income students. Districts with more low-income students get higher rates, but Berkley doesn’t qualify, making us a minimum aid district. This minimum aid provision only ensures the same amount as the previous year, failing to cover inflation and leaving us underfunded.
For FY25, Berkley Public Schools received a state aid increase of $75,020, while our operating costs rose by $400,000.
The 2024-2025 (FY25) budget led to service reductions for Berkley students and families. Berkley Public Schools had to eliminate eight teaching positions, including:
- Berkley Middle School: an art teacher, library teacher, math interventionist, and reading interventionist
- Berkley Community School: a speech and language pathologist, math interventionist, special education teacher, and reading interventionist
The District will start developing the FY26 budget in the fall. The FY26 budget will be refined throughout the 2024-2025 school year, aiming not only for a level service budget but also to restore one or more positions lost in FY25.
Stay informed. Watching meetings and reviewing budget documents gives residents a fuller picture of the District’s challenges, helping them make informed decisions at Town Meetings and elections. Additionally, please communicate with local and state representatives to advocate for a fairer school funding formula.
Melissa Ryan, Superintendent of Schools
mryan@berkleypublicschools.org
508-822-5220
Andrea Tripp, Director of Business Services
atripp@berkleypublicschools.org
508-822-5220
The projected base reimbursement rate is 55.63% plus a 1.29% maintenance incentive and up to 4% additional potential reimbursement based on energy efficiency. Reimbursement applies to ‘eligible’ project costs only. Examples of ineligible costs include abatement of vinyl asbestos tile, moving costs, swing space, soft costs in excess of 20% of construction cost, site costs in excess of $55/SF, and building costs in excess of $550/SF. Projected ineligible scope has been factored into the projected district share.
The “all-in” not-to-exceed project cost including design, furnishings, technology, utility connections, move-in and appropriate contingencies is $89.85M. The project’s SD submission included a projected MSBA reimbursement of up to $39.51.M, leaving the remaining $50.34M to be paid by the District. The potential MSBA reimbursement figure has been voted on and approved at the MSBA Board Meeting on June 26, 2024.
The possible grade configurations are determined by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) based upon their assessment of available space within all district buildings. In Berkley’s case, the MSBA offered funding support for a PK-4 project based on their findings, so we are not currently considering a PK-5 or combining with the middle school as options since those configurations would not be eligible for State funding.
The allowable enrollment study scenarios are determined by the MSBA prior to commencement of the feasibility study. The agreed upon enrollment is for 385 students in grades K-4 plus PREK classrooms which in Berkley’s case could accommodate an additional ~45 PREK students. The MSBA’s enrollment calculation assumes 85% space utilization and therefore includes contingency for potential increases due to a number of varying factors.
The estimated cost to repair the existing Berkley Community School is $63.7M and would not address many of the district’s educational programming goals which were established at the very beginning of the feasibility study as required by the MSBA. Potential MSBA support of a repair project is contingent upon that repair solution substantially meeting the district’s educational programming needs. An addition/renovation option which does support the district’s approved Educational Program, thus securing state funding, has been studied and found to be no less expensive than building new. Furthermore, a new building lends itself to better utilization of space energy efficiency and lower long-term operational/maintenance costs, resulting in additional savings for years to come.
While Berkley will vote to authorize the full project value, the Town does not need to borrow the full amount for the project, just the anticipated district share. Reimbursements of eligible costs are made by the MSBA on a monthly basis. Upon receipt of MSBA Board approval on June 26 th, 2024, a comprehensive cashflow projection was developed by the Owner’s Project Manager which will forecast the anticipated district’s out of pocket expenses at any given point in time. This cashflow projection can be utilized to limit borrowing to only what is absolutely necessary to keep the project moving along, thus keeping borrowing charges to a minimum.
Several have stated “The new school will need costly upgrades that will require things such as new walls, roofs, ceilings, gym, electrical / plumbing fixtures, demolition of old school, foundations.” which is 100% correct. However, the existing schools also need those exact same items in order to be brought up to current code. The walls and roofs do not meet current energy code (lack of insulation or vapor barrier). The plumbing systems do not meet low-flow or handicap accessibility requirements. Some other repairs required would be structural reinforcement, lighting and mechanical systems. It is true that the new building will require foundations, but the old building would also require extensive foundation work, in addition to steel shear bracing and seismic clips throughout as necessary to meet current structural code. When working within the confines of an existing structure, costs for these items increase exponentially. Imagine trying to install new mechanical system ductwork (to satisfy the current code’s minimum outside air requirements) in an existing small, cramped corridor with low ceilings and a plethora of other old systems in your way versus the same task in a new structure which has a clear route and has been designed and framed to accommodate these necessary systems.
The MSBA Accelerated Repair Program is for the partial or full replacement of roofs, windows/doors and/or boilers. The MSBA Core Program would be for repairs above and beyond those listed in the accelerated repair program. The Berkley Community School has been invited to participate in the MSBA Core Program.
The original footprint of the Berkley Community School was built in 1962. An addition was added in 1989 and then again in 2003. Buildings constructed in the early 1900s are many times easier to renovate than those from the 1960s as they are typically constructed from structural masonry with higher ceilings, wider corridors and larger rooms that are easier renovate with requirements such as sprinkler systems, mechanical ventilation, shear/seismic braces, etc. Design professionals are aware of the reasons for this, and Berkley’s Architect has been steadfast in their approach to designing a building flexible enough to accommodate future needs for decades to come. It is impossible to predict the future, but we can certainly learn from the past.
The $89.85M is an all-in number, it includes contingencies, furnishings, equipment, technology, utility connections, even movers for when the building is complete. Furnishings, fixtures, equipment and technology are all fully reimbursed by the MSBA with an allowance of $2,400 per K-4 student for a total reimbursable FF&E / IT budget of $924,000.
The Building Committee intends on going for one and only one debt exclusion, on November 5 th , 2024. At that point the designer’s contract will include a design-to-cost clause based upon the authorized budget to prevent what the industry refers to as “scope creep.”
The district share forecast takes ineligible costs such as sitework exceeding $55/sf into consideration. That is why it is so important to understand that reimbursement is 60.92% of eligible project costs. As we work through design development, the Building Committee will focus on reducing ineligible costs to the maximum extent possible to reduce the burden on Berkley’s taxpayers.
Keeping costs down is a priority, and it will continue to be right through project closeout. It is
understood that many folks affected by this decision do not have children in the school system. Comparatively speaking, the cost per square foot of the proposed Community School is considerably less than that of other similar projects going through the MSBA’s process at the same time as Berkley.
In our Visioning Sessions where teachers, leaders, architects, Finance Committee, School Committee, and community members came together to create the design of the new school, overwhelming this group identified goal was to carefully consider the entire community. The stakeholders involved believe that this school will provide the following options for our Active Older Adult Residents:
- Complete ADA Accessibility (ramps, elevator, parking, larger doors, halls for wheelchairs, etc.)
- Space to create, research, learn (access to art rooms, computer labs, STEAM labs, and
designated areas for research, and reading) - Quality gymnasium to hold exercise classes
- Space to assist in helping our students academically and to build connections
- A building that will provide the space to establish much needed relationships between our younger and older resident
The MSBA is funded through 1% of the State’s 6.25% sales tax. Each year, the MSBA receives selects a limited number of applicants to be invited into its Core program.
The MSBA allows limited time to secure project funding from the time of MSBA Board approval of the project scope and budget, that occurred on June 26 th , 2024. If a district fails to authorize funding within the allocated period, then the project is removed from the MSBA’s pipeline and the funds are offered to the next district in need of a new school. Should the project receive another invitation from the MSBA at some point in the future, the MSBA will require that the Feasibility study and Schematic design be restarted from the beginning, and be 100% funded by the district, without reimbursement from the MSBA. Due to the number of districts in need, it may take 7 years, or longer, for the district to receive another invitation
into the MSBA’s program.
In addition to the MSBA requirements above, Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59, Section 21C(M) requires approval of a ballot question within “90 days after the date of the close of any other town meeting at which an appropriate vote was adopted” at Berkley’s Fall Town Meeting, (November 18 th , 2024).
When people update their home they are not required to make it handicap accessible, install sprinkler systems, upgrade the structure’s wind/earthquake/snow capacities, install new low-flow plumbing fixtures, or ductwork for code required mechanical ventilation.
New homes are constructed with 2×6 exterior walls to meet energy code, right? Now imagine they had to fur out all of the walls in their home to meet that new code, which then meant they needed to reconfigure interior walls to ensure they had proper wheelchair turning radius, all while still maintaining the minimum room size as determined by a State authority, and needing to keep their doors open to the public. If that were the case then building a new house next to that old house doesn’t sound so bad anymore, does it?
The point is: commercial building renovations/projects, and specifically those within the Educational Use Group, are held to a much higher standard. Renovation projects do exist in the MSBA’s pipeline, but are generally the result of either a historic designation or lack of space elsewhere to build upon. MSBA project data confirms that renovation is often no less expensive than constructing new, particularly as compared to Berkley’s cost effective design approach.