Tri-Town Boards of Health Approve FY 2027 Budget Cut by 5%

Members of the Tri-Town Boards of Health have unanimously approved a budget for fiscal year 2027 (FY 2027) that reflects a reduction of nearly five percent compared to the previous year. This decision was made during a meeting held on November 19 and is now set to be reviewed by the Finance Committee for each of the three health boards—Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge.

The budget’s decrease stems primarily from a correction 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 was set at $192,708 in FY 2026, while the request for FY 2027 has been adjusted to $146,858.

According to Executive Director James Wilusz, the final costs for health insurance are yet to be determined and may fluctuate when finalized figures are available in early 2026. “We usually increase around two percent, but that depends on a lot of factors,” Wilusz stated. These factors include cost-of-living adjustments, longevity stipends, and step increases for staff. He noted that “insurance costs have been a huge issue the last couple of years.”

The budget also anticipates a boost in revenue from a 20 percent increase in permit fees. While revenues from permits increased in Lenox, they saw a slight decline in the other two towns. Significant construction projects in the area, such as the hotel and residential redevelopment of Stockbridge’s 314-acre DeSisto parcel and Lee’s Eagle Mill mixed-use and affordable housing venture, are also factors influencing the budget.

Wilusz emphasized that there has been a notable rise in requests for inspections and housing complaints. He remarked, “We had been struggling the last couple of years having our two full-time inspectors full time.” This situation highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the allocations and fees shared among the three towns involved in the program.

Tri-Town distributes its expenses based on a three-year rolling average of service delivery: Lee accounts for 33 percent, Lenox 43 percent, and Stockbridge 24 percent. For FY 2027, the budget requests per town are as follows: Lee at $201,255.11, Lenox at $263,995.91, and Stockbridge at $144,989.55 after in-kind contributions are factored in.

Reflecting on the previous fiscal year, Wilusz highlighted the success of TriTown’s public health nursing division, which experienced “significant growth in [its] vaccine program.” Over the past year, the program conducted monthly blood pressure clinics and 21 vaccine clinics across the region, administering 1,467 flu and 1,237 COVID vaccinations.

The last twelve months 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. The SBPHC, established in 2021, aims to enhance service sharing—including nursing and inspection services—between the Tri-Town Health District and surrounding towns such as Alford, Great Barrington, and Monterey.

Additionally, a grant-funded education program on ticks successfully distributed information and tick pullers to the community, and a Sharps Kiosk program has been established in most Berkshire towns. Following the demolition of Lee’s Aeroldi Building, which had served as TriTown’s headquarters for decades, the agency relocated to Stockbridge Town Hall at 50 Main Street in early January 2024, temporarily closing its offices from January 2 to January 10.

Looking forward, Wilusz mentioned plans for TriTown to manage a full-time, multi-town shared animal control program, which reflects a growing trend towards collaborative public health initiatives, as seen with Stockbridge and West Stockbridge’s joint emergency medical services and fire response system. As the leader of the oldest shared-services health department, Wilusz stated, “TriTown wrote the map on shared services.”