The Town of Amherst's Joint Capital Planning Committee convened on March 18, 2026, to review resident capital requests and discuss updates to the five-year capital plan. Key procurement-related discussions included a $40,000-$50,000 resident request for a stormwater erosion and hydrology study, which committee members noted overlaps with existing stormwater management plans and ongoing projects. The committee also reviewed other resident requests such as $50,000 for dog park lighting, $1 million for road paving, $10,000 for sound absorption in a library community room, and $50,000 to upgrade downtown business bathrooms. Several adjustments were made to the capital budget, including removing a $75,000 IT cybersecurity project and reallocating funds from closed or delayed projects to increase road funding by $275,000. The committee discussed balancing the FY 2027 capital budget at 10.5% of the prior year's levy, noting deficits in out years primarily due to large vehicle and facility projects. They emphasized the need for a vehicle replacement policy and more coordinated planning with schools on facilities. The committee also considered the role of Community Preservation Act funds for historic and recreational projects. No final votes on funding allocations were recorded, but the committee planned to draft a final report for the next meeting. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn after thorough discussion of project priorities and budget balancing strategies.

Joint Capital Planning Committee Mar 18, 2026