FY22 Budget: A Year of Recovery

This is a budget of hope and optimism. It lays the foundation for recovery from the pandemic. Amherst will reemerge as a stronger, safer, more resilient community with new initiatives that will invest significantly in our collective future. - Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman

Below are some budget highlights, please  click here to view the whole FY22 Budget document. 

COVID-19 required the Town to quickly shift its operation to serve the needs of the community. Below are some highlights of the major initiatives undertaken by the Town to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. Many of these activities were funded from CARES Act, FEMA, and/or the Town’s General Fund budget. 

To view our full COVID Response,  please view our Budget Book here .

Objective: To prioritize and implement regulatory, fiscal, and other actions to meet the Climate Action Goals adopted by the Council on November 18, 2019 by (1) implementing Community Choice Aggregation and the creation of a Climate Action and Resilience Plan, (2) ensuring that budgeting, purchasing, construction, repair, hiring, and other decisions involve considerations of energy, sustainability, and resilience in order to determine impacts of energy use and move Amherst towards meeting the Climate Action Goals, and (3) educating Town multiple-member bodies and staff on the Climate Action Goals.  

Objective: To ensure the health and safety of the residents of Amherst by (1) continuing to take all steps necessary to ensure the health of the community in the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) in accordance with the Council’s vote on July 27, 2020, and in consultation with the Council and residents of Amherst, fully exploring alternative options of providing services to respond to issues of homelessness, mental health, and other non-criminal calls to emergency dispatch and present the results to the Council no later than May 15, 2020. 

Objective: To explore, recommend, and implement policies and procedures that address racial equity and social justice consistent with the Town Council Resolution in the Aftermath of the Death of Mr. George Floyd adopted on June 1, 2020 that (1) ensure all community members feel and are a part of Amherst and feel and are protected, listened to, and served by their public servants, (2) foster a community free of fear, intimidation, and violence, and (3) incorporate significant involvement of BIPOC residents in shaping these policies and procedures.  

Objective: To ensure the present and future economic health and well-being of the Town by (1) working closely with local institutions and business entities, including the BID and Chamber of Commerce, to provide support and assistance to the local business community in the face of the economic challenges encountered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) facilitating the review and revision of the Zoning bylaws to promote diverse neighborhoods, affordable housing, and new growth in downtown and village centers, and (3) continuing to develop a plan to implement actions proposed by the Downtown Parking Working Group as modified by CRC and adopted by the Town Council. 

Objective: To provide access to safe, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents by (1) implementing the Resolution Adopting an Interim Affordable Housing Policy vote by Town Council on April 4, 2020 that called for identifying and aggressively exploring opportunities to preserve and increase affordable housing at all income levels, (2) assisting the Council in developing a Comprehensive Housing Policy, and (3) ensuring the operation of a seasonal shelter, and (4) exploring the possibility of creating a permanent seasonal or year round shelter in Amherst either through the repurposing of surplus Town buildings or land and/or through working in partnership with concerned community groups or individuals to realize this goal.

Objective: To provide the Council with a plan for the funding of the renovation/expansion or replacement of an elementary school in accordance with Fort River MSBA Grant application, the repair or renovation/expansion of the Jones Library, the replacement of the Central Fire Station, and the replacement of the Department of Public Works headquarters, consistent with the October 21, 2019 Council vote that it is the sense of the Council that the Council is committed to a plan that will address all four buildings in some fashion.

Thank you for viewing our FY22 Budget Story. Visit our  FY22 Budget page on Engage Amherst  to view more documents, upcoming meeting dates, share your feedback and ask budget related questions.

Email your Town Council at  towncouncil@amherstma.gov  or visit them online at  www.amherstma.gov/towncouncil 

You may also view this and past budgets documents at  www.amherstma.gov/budget