Finance Committee hears public on $107.1M town budget

Finance Committee · Meeting of May 11, 2026

AMHERST — The Finance Committee heard public comment on a proposed $107.1 million fiscal 2027 budget and took no vote on it. Finance Director Sean Mangano said the plan was a 3.8 percent increase over fiscal 2026, with a $10.3 million capital program and $200,000 from the ambulance fund to restore one frozen fire and EMS position and add another. Parents, teachers and School Committee representatives urged more elementary school funding, and Casey Maloney called the nearly 300-page budget book inaccessible.

Firefighters Local 1764 President Sarah Forsyth backed the staffing plan, saying the department had operated "at a breaking point." The committee adjourned by an 8-0 roll call, with recommendations due June 2 and a council vote expected June 15.

In the full story:

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• Amherst's community access TV: Finance Committee meeting, May 11, 2026
• The complete report: 730 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of May 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.