At the forefront of the meeting, the committee members debated the regional school budget, which had been proposed to increase by 88.2%. A significant amount of time was dedicated to this topic, with members expressing concerns over the process of recommending this increase to the town meeting. The committee had unanimously voted not to recommend the increase and to separate it from the rest of the budget as an independent article. This decision sparked a broader conversation about the town’s discretion to alter or omit warrant articles on the regional school budget and the potential need for a special town meeting to address this separate from the annual town meeting.

Members stressed the importance of a comprehensive analysis of the budget and voiced frustration over the lack of information from the Amherst Finance Committee. The uncertainty surrounding the budget led to discussions on whether to put the old budget number in place temporarily and wait for further information before making any decisions. The committee also contemplated the consequences of not having a budget approved, including the state potentially freezing the budget for FY24, which would result in a loss of autonomy for the region and the imposition of a 112 budget.

The committee expressed frustration with the regional school committee’s late decision-making and the subsequent impact on the budget process. The negotiation process with the four towns involved in the regional school budget was also a point of contention. The committee discussed the need to gather more information and start from the budget proposed in February before considering any increases. There was no consensus on whether to preemptively increase the budget to align with potential decisions from other towns, with some members advocating for a disciplined approach based on the information available.

The potential elimination of 14 teaching positions, which was discussed at the last four towns meeting, raised concerns about the quality of education and the need for careful consideration of any budget amount that would address the proposed cuts. The severity of potential cuts and their impact on education quality were central to the discussion.

The committee’s concerns extended beyond the school budget to the representation of all stakeholders at the four-town meeting. There was a consensus on the need for more integration and accurate representation, as well as the challenges of locking in a budget number before the meeting. The committee also faced the significant impact of potential budget cuts and the public pushback that could arise from them.

The committee discussed the upward pressure on the budget due to contracts for teaching staff, enrollment trends, and the cost of education. There was a call for a three-year plan to address these issues. Additionally, the committee made adjustments to various budget items, including revenue and expenses, while considering the use of free cash reserves to offset budget increases. Opinions differed on the use of reserves, with some members proposing to leave the current 8.2% number in the budget while aiming for compromise and further examination of the numbers.

During the meeting, the committee also focused on how to manage the town’s financial resources effectively. The potential shortfall in the tax title budget due to a filing error necessitated an additional $3,000, which the committee approved to transfer from the finance committee Reserve fund. Similarly, the fire department’s training wages line required an additional $6,000 to cover the remaining pay periods of the fiscal year. The committee approved a transfer of funds to meet this need while acknowledging the possibility of further transfers due to unusual call volume.

The town’s overall fiscal health was deliberated with proposals to use free cash reserves for various expenses and capital projects, including road repairs, body cameras, and elementary school repairs, to alleviate the tax burden on residents. The committee also examined the potential for using capital stabilization funds for future debt service payments, focusing on interest rates and savings.

As the meeting concluded, the committee planned to reconvene on April 2nd to finalize the budget and continue discussions on the regional school budget and assessment method. Upcoming meetings with the select board and the creation of the annual report were also on the agenda, with members coordinating their availability for future meetings.