Finance Committee May 14, 2026

The Town of Amherst Finance Committee held a meeting on May 14, 2026, focusing primarily on public safety budget reviews. Key procurement-related discussions included the fire department's staffing initiative, with a proposed three-year plan to increase firefighter positions from 46 to 52 by FY29, funded partly through ambulance billing receipts. The committee also discussed the funding and operational hours of Crest, a community responder program, emphasizing the need for full funding and expanded staffing to meet community needs. Additionally, the police department reported on staffing challenges, budget constraints, and revenue from police detail administrative fees totaling approximately $57,000 in FY26, with overall detail work payments around $500,000. The meeting included detailed explanations of funding sources, staffing levels, and interdepartmental cooperation, with a unanimous vote to adjourn.