STOCKBRIDGE — The PILOT Program Committee established by the Select Board to consider a policy for payments in lieu of taxes from the town's long list of tax-exempt properties is seeking guidance from other communities statewide that are successful in gaining voluntary contributions from nonprofits.

"We're in the process of establishing a PILOT program which would establish guidelines and transparency for what not-for-profits are donating to the town in lieu of taxes," said committee Chairman Tom Stokes, a member of the town's Board of Assessors, during a recent briefing for the selectmen.

A public hearing on the PILOT program is planned for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the selectmen's meeting room at the Town Offices.

Suggestions are welcome from nonprofit leaders and taxpayers, including second-home owners who contribute to the town's tax base, said Stokes.

There are 157 tax-exempt properties in Stockbridge, according to Principal Assessor Michael Blay. The total assessed valuation on those properties is nearly $132 million — total valuation of all properties is $977 million. If those properties were taxable, revenue to the town would be $1,279,653, based on the current tax rate of $9.76 per $1,000 of valuation, Blay stated.

Among the most prominent nonprofits in town are Tanglewood, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Berkshire Theatre Festival, the Berkshire Botanical Garden, the Naumkeag Gilded Age mansion and gardens, Chesterwood, the museum showcasing the country estate, studio and gardens of famed sculptor Daniel Chester French and the Austen Riggs Center's psychiatric hospital and therapeutic community.

Since last May, seven nonprofits have contributed $72,549 involuntary PILOT payments, said Treasurer-Collector Karen Williams, with the largest amount, $39,352, received from Kripalu.

At the Annual Town Meeting on May 21 voters will be asked to approve a nonbinding ballot question for the Nov. 6 general election to establish a formal PILOT program and to approve $5,000 for preliminary research work by the committee, including feedback from residents prior to the referendum.

Proposed bylaws for the program are being prepared, Stokes explained. "The vote at the town meeting will not be to commit Stockbridge but to move this process forward," he told the selectmen.

The aim is "to establish a standard that's fair, equitable, transparent and persuasive," he commented, and not to "go after" the nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations.

"We'd like to encourage people who have questions about the wisdom of this program or any aspect of it to come to the hearing," Stokes emphasized, noting the typically busy agenda for the Annual Town Meeting. "We prefer to address whatever questions we can at the hearing. We hope there'll be a good turnout."

Additional members of the PILOT group include Finance Committee Chairman Jay Bikofsky and Planning Board Chairman Gary Pitney, who's also on the town's Board of Assessors.

Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com or 413-637-2551.