Unfunded Health Costs

State and local governments have usually ignored the financial ramifications of promising retirement benefits, including health insurance coverage, to employees. The accounting folks have finally gotten around to requiring those governments to at least acknowledge the future hit that taxpayers will take for being profligate. That includes Egremont. The town is not yet required to fund the future cost currently, but it should. Keep this item in mind when you consider the town budget at the town meeting in May. I'll bet the employees will try to downplay the matter. Here's hoping the finance committee raises it squarely.

Walking the South Village

The historical commission has published a brochure describing a walking tour of the buildings in the south village. It's packed with interesting info, even if you're not generally interested in this sort of stuff, and is well worth looking at whether or not you take the tour. Copies are available at town hall.