Stockbridge Approves Amended Finance Committee Minutes, Reviews Ambulance Startup and Water Rate Plans

LENOX — March 23, 2026 — Stockbridge Finance Committee and Select Board review half-million-dollar ambulance startup and falling water revenue. Meeting jointly on March 23, the two bodies heard from Deputy Fire Chief of EMS Operations Michael Maher Jr. and Town Administrator Michael Canales that fiscal year 2027 will be the most costly transition year for the new Stockbridge-West Stockbridge ambulance service, with operating costs rising more than $500,000 to fund four new firefighter-EMTs and $300,000 in startup equipment; full 24-7 service is targeted for July 1, 2027. Canales estimated that a new $12.5 million fire-EMS building, financed over 30 years at roughly 3.5 percent, would add a net $250,000 annually to the budget once existing debt rolls off around fiscal year 2031. On water, Superintendent Jim Baffoni reported that metered sales fell to approximately 52 million gallons in 2025 from a historic range of 56 to 60 million gallons, driven largely by a major commercial customer converting to closed-loop refrigeration, pushing billing commitments down to $301,000 from $348,000 three years ago; Canales said he is leaning toward recommending a 10 percent water rate increase to the Water and Sewer Commission at its April 2 hearing. The committee also approved amended minutes from its March 11 meeting and was briefed on three budget adjustments: a $45,000 reduction in the Stockbridge Bowl capital request, a $70,000 increase for Chime Tower stone restoration, and a $24,000 retirement payout for the departing town clerk.