Meeting Report: Amherst Finance Committee, March 18, 2025
Finance Committee Resistant to Changing Budget Guidelines to Benefit the Schools
The recent meeting of the Amherst Finance Committee on March 18, 2025, held over Zoom and recorded, saw a heated debate regarding proposed changes to the budget guidelines that would benefit the schools in the region. Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier’s proposal to allocate a greater percentage increase to the regional and elementary schools compared to municipal offices and the library faced resistance from the committee members.
The approved budget guidelines, which Devlin Gauthier had previously voted for, allocated equal percentage increases to municipal services, the library, elementary schools, and regional schools. However, with the regional schools facing a $1.3 million deficit and the elementary schools also struggling with a shortfall, Devlin Gauthier argued for a more substantial increase for the schools.
The Finance Committee members, including Chair Cathy Schoen and Bob Hegner, expressed reluctance to reopen discussions on the budget guidelines, citing the extensive work done in the previous year to reach a consensus. Finance Director Melissa Zawadzki highlighted the challenges faced by municipal services, including a projected $500,000 budget gap due to rising costs and obligations.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman emphasized the importance of maintaining equal allocations across different areas of town government to avoid creating a win-lose dynamic. Resident member Bernie Kubiak supported this approach, stating that deviating from equal increases could lead to future conflicts between departments.
Devlin Gauthier defended her request for increased school funding, arguing that the current base allocation was not equitable and that sacrificing students and teachers every year was not a sustainable solution. The debate will continue at the upcoming Town Council meeting, with further discussions scheduled by the Finance Committee to address the regional and elementary school budgets.
The outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the town’s financial planning and long-term stability. Stay tuned for updates on how the budget guidelines will be adjusted to address the needs of the schools while maintaining fiscal responsibility across all areas of town government.
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