Finance Committee Apr 21, 2026

The Town of Amherst Finance Committee met on April 21, 2026, to discuss several budgetary and procurement-related matters. Key procurement discussions centered on the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding, specifically a $330,000 grant recommendation for the preservation of historic woodwork at the Jones Library. The committee reviewed legal opinions regarding the eligibility of this funding and voted to recommend approval of the Jones Library project portion of the CPA funds to the Town Council. Additionally, the committee considered a $497,000 debt authorization related to regional school capital projects, recommending that the Town Council approve this authorization. The meeting also included a detailed review of the town's third-quarter financial report, highlighting revenue collections, expenditures, and concerns such as snow and ice budget overruns and parking violation revenue shortfalls. The committee discussed budget allocations, enterprise fund revenues, and upcoming budget review schedules, emphasizing coordination for the May budget hearings and report drafting.