Budget Coordinating Group Mar 4, 2026

The Town of Amherst's Budget Coordinating Group convened to discuss updates on the fiscal year 2027 budget projections, focusing on health insurance premiums, revenue adjustments, and expenditure forecasts. Notably, the health insurance premium increase was moderated to 8.5% from an anticipated 18.5%, partly due to reduced coverage of GLP1 medications. Revenue projections were adjusted downward due to lower-than-expected growth and investment income, with cautious budgeting to avoid overreliance on volatile interest income. The group also reviewed the use of free cash, including appropriations for capital projects such as the middle school roof and road maintenance, and discussed the strategic allocation of funds to support operating budgets and emergency contingencies. Additionally, the meeting covered the regional school budget updates, consolidation efficiencies, and the timing of budget approvals across the four towns involved. Discussions included the use of the ambulance fund to support hiring additional firefighters/EMTs and ongoing advocacy efforts to revise the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) formula to better account for university properties. The meeting emphasized the importance of coordinated capital planning and transparent communication between town and regional entities to optimize budget management and procurement planning.