SHELBURNE FALLS — In preparation for the July 1 launch date of the new West County Senior Services District, the board of managers has drafted a $299,067 budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

The budget will be updated in the coming months as the district determines the costs of becoming an entity separate from the towns of Shelburne, Buckland and Ashfield, including hiring its own accountant and bookkeeper, and paying insurance and benefits costs.

“Outsourcing some of the things we have become accustomed to the town of Shelburne taking care of as our fiscal agent has become a challenge,” Senior Center Director Juli Moreno told the Shelburne Selectboard last week. “Making this change is going to incur a cost.”

For years, the Senior Center on Main Street in Shelburne Falls has been operating under a three-town consortium, with Shelburne acting as the managing town. Seeking independence and the ability to expand to include more towns, as well as the ability to own property and one day construct its own senior center, the three towns voted at annual Town Meetings in 2022 to create a separate West County Senior Services District. The district was then signed into law by former Gov. Charlie Baker on Jan. 5 2023, with an official launch date of July 1, 2025.

Moreno and the district’s board of managers have been working to acquire everything the district needs to operate as an independent entity and have gotten quotes of approximately $40,000 for accounting and $12,000 for a bookkeeper and treasurer. The final numbers may change as they finalize a contract, but Moreno said those will be available well before the budget is voted on at annual Town Meeting.

While the West County Senior Services District will be a separate entity and maintain its own financial records, the towns will still be billed an assessment based on population and use, similar to how the school district operated.

Ashfield’s assessment is expected to be $60,711, Buckland’s assessment will be $101,982, and Shelburne’s assessment will be $136,375.

The total budget represents a 29.35% ($67,864) increase from the 2025 fiscal year with Shelburne acting as the fiscal agent.

“I think it’s a really good start; It’s just a little bit more pricey,” Moreno said.

Moreno said while operating costs are going to increase, the district is not anticipating any increase to facility costs. Rent, heat, electricity and other costs associated with the Senior Center are expected to remain at $29,620.

She noted that this budget is the first ever budget for the new district and includes upfront costs such as purchasing accounting software.

Shelburne Selectboard members said the budget lays the groundwork for sustainability and growth, and looks good for a first-year budget, but the district should keep an open mind to other operational methods in the future, such as going back to having a town fiscal agent if having their own proves to be unsustainable.

Members of the Shelburne Finance Committee said they would like to see further analysis of usage to ensure the town is only being billed for seniors who live in Shelburne.

Each of the three towns will maintain its own Council on Aging separate from the district to do its own individual events and outreach for its seniors. For the 2026 fiscal year the Shelburne Council on Aging is requesting $1,000.

“Our role is going to be changing somewhat as the new district comes to be,” said Penny Spearance of the Shelburne Council on Aging. “We’re asking for a small request for a budget of $1,000 for outreach and similar activities.”

The district will cover events, programming and services for seniors throughout the entire district, and each individual COA complements that work by hosting more community specific activities, Moreno said.

“We feel as a council on aging we will be having more Shelburne specific activities, as well as collaborative activities,” Spearance said.

According to the meeting minutes of the Feb. 3 Ashfield Selectboard meeting, the Ashfield Council on Aging is requesting $1,200 for outreach and events.

Moreno said she would keep the towns Selectboards and Finance Committees up to date with any changes to the district budget.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com