Finance Committee May 21, 2026

The Town of Amherst Finance Committee held a meeting on May 21, 2026, focusing primarily on budget reviews related to the Department of Public Works (DPW), Enterprise Funds, and Water and Sewer Rates. Key procurement-related discussions included challenges with staffing vacancies in the highway and wastewater departments, impacts on service delivery, and the effect of recent contract negotiations on employee retention and salary adjustments. The committee reviewed operating expense budgets, noting increases to better support materials and utilities, and discussed capital improvement projects such as paving contracts funded through Chapter 90, Mass Works grants, and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The meeting also addressed procurement constraints due to municipal bidding requirements and ongoing efforts to streamline these processes. Additionally, the committee discussed future water and sewer infrastructure expenses, including a significant upcoming sewer system study and its anticipated impact on rates. The committee planned to vote on water and sewer rates in an upcoming meeting and emphasized the need for clearer information on school budget allocations before finalizing recommendations. No formal votes were taken during this session, but action items included follow-up on budget clarifications and preparation of draft reports for council consideration.