Joint Capital Planning Committee Mar 25, 2026

The Town of Amherst Joint Capital Planning Committee met on March 25, 2026, to review and finalize the FY27 capital budget and discuss related policy matters. The committee examined the available funding sources, including cash capital, debt exclusions, state aid, and other funds, noting that improved debt interest rates allowed for fully funding the Crocker Farm playground with cash and increasing road funding by $375,000. They reviewed the proposed projects and agreed to accept them with minor adjustments, including reducing the number of police vehicles recommended for replacement from three to two, reallocating $90,000 to road maintenance. A significant portion of the meeting focused on developing a vehicle replacement policy to establish clear, consistent standards for fleet management across departments, considering factors like vehicle age, mileage, and usage patterns. The committee agreed to include a proposed vehicle policy in the report and recommended further work with department heads over the summer to refine it. Additionally, they discussed a $9,000 resident capital request for soundproofing a library room, ultimately deciding to prioritize road funding instead. The committee voted to approve the amended report and emphasized the need for ongoing attention to capital planning challenges, particularly balancing urgent vehicle replacements with infrastructure needs like roads.