PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is preparing for drastic cuts in the federal budget that may be in the offing.

 

At Thursday's meeting of the BRPC Executive Committee, Executive Director Tom Matuszko told the board that the county's lead agency for technical assistance and planning services for municipalities could take a hit if the incoming Trump administration follows through on its promises to slash spending.

 

"I wanted to alert the executive committee, a lot of our revenue is either direct federal contracts or 'pass through' money that goes through one of the state agencies," Matuszko said in the meeting held over Zoom.

 

"Ultimately, the sources of those funds are various agencies that the incoming administration has said they want to at least look at for reduction or possibly elimination."

 

Specifically, Matuszko mentioned entities like the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Economic Development Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

"These are all agencies that Republican administrations have previously somewhat targeted, and the new administration has made some gestures about trying to reduce or eliminate them," he said. "What we've been doing is looking at, if some or all of these funds go away, how do we pivot to keep the agency strong. We're in the beginning stages of that, looking at what revenue sources are and what is the risk."

 

And the risk may be immediate.

 

Matuszko said he has heard rumors that some of BRPC's existing contracts that are funded by federal dollars might be canceled and the money "clawed back" by the administration that takes office on Jan. 20, 2025.

 

He said that BRPC staff is looking at what expenses — like needed information technology upgrades — can be put off or phased in to lower costs in the years ahead. And it is concentrating its efforts on state funding sources that are less dependent on federal dollars.

 

He also said the county agency is exploring potential private sources of funding, specifically mentioning a Boston non-profit with a focus on the environment.

 

And BRPC is in contact with other planning agencies across the commonwealth to talk about the potential shock to the system.

 

"Part of the problem with a regional planning agency is, in many ways, it's a feast or famine situation," Matuszko said. "In our community planning section, we have a lot of grants that will be hard to complete by June 30 unless we hire more staff, but after June 30, who knows what happens?"

 

Executive committee members — representing about a quarter of the 32 towns and cities served by the BRPC — agreed the agency should be preparing for the looming cuts but also suggested they may be short-lived or less severe than the worst-case scenario.

 

"We should have in the back of our minds as we make contingency plans that two years into this there could be a backlash on the part of the voting public when congressional elections happen," Windsor's Doug McNally said. "We shouldn't assume that if it all happens it will be permanent. We should try to do damage control and hang on for two fiscal years."

 

Stockbridge's Christine Rasmussen suggested that the most draconian cuts may not come to fruition.

 

"I think, from what I have read, that in Washington there's going to be a lot of chaos," Rasmussen said. "Now, even some Republican legislators are saying for things like clean energy, we should take a scalpel rather than an axe [to the budget]. Hopefully, that is somewhat encouraging."

 

But, Rasmussen continued, the BRPC does need to pivot, as Matuszko suggested.

 

"I think we need to really think about the state budget and how we can position, perhaps, some items that would get support statewide in the budget, so we're assured that when the budget is signed, there's hope of getting those funds," Rasmussen said.

 

"You're right, Christine," Matuszko replied. "We need to advocate this year for the [District Local Technical Assistance] program. That's state money and relatively flexible. That is a high priority from my perspective."

 

Adams' John Duval said local municipalities could support the BRPC by giving the local agency more contract work.

 

"I'm thinking about all the items our [Adams Board of Selectmen] needs to have done — for example, a search for a new town administrator, updating the policy handbook, Open Meeting Law training.

 

"[BRPC] already does services for towns, but do we start to look at what communities can pay for? Could we go into that arena? [Towns] are going to spend the money anyway on somebody."

 

Matuszko agreed it would be helpful if local cities and towns took that approach and kept more of their spending for consultants in the local economy.

 

"Towns would get a local product geared to towns' needs, and it would keep us strong," he said.

 

Matuszko said BRPC is not the only local non-profit facing funding uncertainty.

 

"I was on a call yesterday with non-profits, and they were very concerned their 501(c)3 status could be jeopardized if they do anything related to immigrants," he said. "There is a lot of anxiety in the non-profit sector around that."

 

The board agreed that an increasing need for state support of work by agencies like the BRPC should be a topic when the executive committee welcomes members of the county's legislative delegation to future meetings.

 

Coincidentally at Thursday's meeting, the panel unanimously agreed to a 2.5 percent increase in the agency's assessment to its member towns and cities.

 

"It's in line with what most select boards are expecting [for fiscal year 2026]," McNally said. "I don't think it will be a shock to anybody."

 

"It's also a real bargain when you understand everything BRPC does," Rasmussen said just before the vote. "It's amazing you do it for so little money."