A Path to Sustainability 

What Does “Sustainability” Mean in Berkley?

In Berkley, sustainability means the town can pay its bills year after year without constant cuts, emergencies, or crisis decisions.

A sustainable Berkley is one where:

• Core services are funded every year, not just when savings are available

• Budgets are built on reliable revenue, not one-time fixes

• Departments are staffed at levels that are safe, functional, and realistic

• The town is not forced to choose between which services to lose next

Sustainability means matching our revenue system to today’s reality, not yesterday’s costs.

Berkley’s Path to Long-Term Sustainability

A Three-Step Plan

Step 1: Override (Immediate / Year 1)

Purpose: Stabilize the town and restore services to functional levels.

What this does:

• Brings departments back to operational staffing levels

• Prevents further cuts and closures

• Allows the town to meet basic service expectations safely and reliably
  
  

Why this comes first:
An override does not fix every problem — but nothing else is possible without stability. You cannot plan, reform, or improve systems while services are being cut and staff are stretched beyond capacity.

Step 2: Strengthen Town Government (Mid-Term / Years 1–3)

Purpose: Make Town Hall function efficiently and stop losing money due to understaffing and overload.

What this means:

• Adequate staffing in key administrative and operational roles

• Modernized systems and clearer processes

• Reduced burnout, turnover, and errors
  
  

Why this matters:
Berkley’s limited staffing capacity means:

• Work is delayed or duplicated

• Opportunities for grants, reimbursements, and efficiencies are missed

• A small number of people are doing the work of many
  
  

This isn’t about “more bureaucracy.”
It’s about making sure the town can:

• Manage its finances properly

• Support departments effectively

• Plan instead of constantly reacting to emergencies
  
  

A stronger Town Hall protects taxpayer dollars by making sure the town is not losing money through inefficiency or lack of capacity.

Step 3: Grow the Tax Base (Long-Term / Years 3–5)

Purpose: Reduce pressure on homeowners by broadening where town revenue comes from.

What this means:

• Thoughtful residential and commercial development

• Expanding the number of taxpayers sharing the cost of services

• Maintaining Berkley’s character while improving fiscal balance
  
  

Why this matters:
Right now, residents carry most of the tax burden.
Without growth:

• Costs continue to rise

• Taxes remain concentrated on homeowners

• Overrides become more likely in the future
  
  

By growing the tax base responsibly, Berkley can:

• Generate more revenue without increasing individual tax rates

• Shift some of the burden away from residents

• Create a more resilient, balanced financial system