Tri-Town Boards of Health Approves FY 2027 Budget Cut

On November 19, the Tri-Town Boards of Health, representing the towns of Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge, unanimously approved a budget for fiscal year 2027 (FY 2027) that reflects a nearly five percent decrease compared to the previous year. This decision will now proceed to the Finance Committee for each town’s approval.

According to Executive Director James Wilusz, the budget reduction is primarily due to an adjustment in employee retirement benefits. The fiscal year 2026 (FY 2026) budget allocated more funds than necessary for these provisions. Specifically, the budget for fringe benefits decreased from $192,708 in FY 2026 to $146,858 for FY 2027. Wilusz noted that final health insurance costs, which may fluctuate, are typically not finalized until early 2026.

“We usually see an increase of around two percent, but it depends on a variety of factors,” Wilusz explained. Factors influencing costs include cost-of-living adjustments, longevity stipends, and step increases for staff. He added, “Insurance costs have been a huge issue over the last couple of years.”

In addition to these budgetary adjustments, a planned 20 percent increase in permit fees is expected to provide additional revenue for the Tri-Town organization. While permit revenues have risen for Lenox, they have decreased slightly in the other towns.

Factors Influencing the Budget

The Tri-Town Boards of Health also face new challenges due to larger development projects in the area. These include the hotel and residential redevelopment of the DeSisto parcel in Stockbridge and the mixed-use, affordable housing project at Eagle Mill in Lee. Wilusz stated, “We’re seeing more and more requests for inspections and housing complaints.” The organization has struggled to maintain its two full-time inspectors given the increased demand.

The budget allocations among the three towns are based on a three-year rolling average of service delivery. For FY 2027, the requested contributions are as follows: Lee at $201,255.11, Lenox at $263,995.91, and Stockbridge at $144,989.55, after accounting for in-kind contributions.

Wilusz highlighted the achievements of the past fiscal year, noting significant growth in the public health nursing division’s vaccine program. The division conducted 21 vaccination clinics throughout the region, administering a total of 1,467 flu and 1,237 COVID inoculations.

The past year also saw the launch of a new website for the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative (SBPHC) and a public session addressing a measles outbreak that originated in Texas. Furthermore, the SBPHC created a guide to assist local families in accessing food, housing, mental health, and transportation resources.

Future Plans and Shared Services

Established in 2021, the SBPHC aims to enhance service sharing among the Tri-Town Health District and neighboring towns, including Alford, Great Barrington, and Sheffield. The organization has successfully rolled out a tick education program and the Sharps Kiosk program across many Berkshire towns.

Following the demolition of Lee’s Aeroldi Building, which had housed the Tri-Town office for decades, the agency has relocated to Stockbridge Town Hall at 50 Main Street. The office was closed to the public from January 2 to January 10, 2025, during this transition.

Looking ahead, Wilusz mentioned plans for Tri-Town to oversee a full-time multi-town shared animal control program. He observed a growing trend in shared services, such as the collaboration between Stockbridge and West Stockbridge in emergency medical services and fire response. As the head of the oldest shared-services health department, Wilusz stated, “TriTown wrote the map on shared services.”