Town Manager Submits His FY26 Budget to Town Council

Source: amherstma.gov

Town Manager Paul Bockelman has submitted his FY26 Town Budget to the Town Council.  The Town Council must approve a final budget for FY26 by June 30.

This budget includes all aspects of Town operations including Municipal, Schools, Regional Schools, Library, and Capital for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (FY26). The five-year Capital Plan is also incorporated as part of this budget submission.  

View all FY26 budget information at www.amherstma.gov/3584/Upcoming-Budget  
View the FY26 budget book at www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/78496/FINAL-BUDGET-BOOK–5-1-25

Upcoming Events
Budget Presentation: Town Manager Paul Bockelman will present his FY26 Town Budget at the Town Council meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm via Zoom. View agenda and access Zoom information. 

Budget Public Hearing: The Town Council & Finance Committee will hold a Public Hearing on the FY26 Budget on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Visit the Boards and Committees calendar to view up-to-date meeting information.

The Finance Committee will review and make a recommendation to the Town Council on the budget. Meetings will be held between May 6 through June 16. View full FY26 Budget calendar. 

If you have any questions about the FY26 Budget or this notice, please contact the Town Manager’s Office at (413) 259-3002 or via email at townmanager@amherstma.gov 

This notice is published in accordance with Section 5.4(b) of the Amherst Home Rule Charter.Visit the FY26 Upcoming Budget Webpage.

Budget Highlights
Bockelman offered the following highlights in his introduction to the FY26 budget book.

The budget amounts to $103,261,100, and represents an increase of $5,187,694, or 5.3% from the adopted FY25 Budget. The Capital Improvement Program reflects an investment of $9,663,408 (including debt; excluding grants) for FY26, determined by allocating 10.265% of the tax levy to capital expenditures. The budget is balanced using existing revenue streams and one-time funds and does not require the use of an override.

Highlights

• Challenging Fiscal Environment:
  Cost pressures, especially rising health insurance costs, required difficult decisions to align the budget with fiscal realities, the Council’s Policy Goals, Budget Guidelines, and subsequent budget guidance. This FY26 budget prioritizes essential services, addresses aging infrastructure, and invests in capital needs.
  
• Met Town Council Goal of Funding for Schools:
  The budget increases funding for the Regional Schools budget by 4.81%.The budget increases funding for the Elementary School budget by 5%, including 1% of one-time bridge funding (from Free Cash) to support the transition from three elementary schools to two and the relocation of the 6th grade.
  
• 6.4 Town Positions Frozen:
  Contractual obligations including all collective bargaining agreements, cost-of-living adjustments and steps, debt service, and assessments for the retirement system are included in this budget. Even with a 4% increase, 6.4 Town positions were required to be frozen to close the budget gap. This action preserves existing jobs and provides funds to meet health insurance obligations and honor collective bargaining and other staff commitments.
  
• Reduced Funding for Capital;
  Capital funding was reduced from 10.5% of the levy to 10.265% of the levy. This reduction wasdone reluctantly as I balanced competing Town Council goals. It amounts to a $151,376 reduction
• in funds available for capital.
  
• Commitment to DEI and Sustainability:
  The budget fully funds DEI and Sustainability initiatives ensuring Amherst remains a leader in
• Climate Action and Racial Equity.
  
• Continued Support for Recent Initiatives:
  The budget continues funding for implementation of the new Rental Registration bylaw, Recreation’s youth programming such as the successful Morning Movement and Mentoring programs, and provides staff support for numerous capital projects.
  
• Fiscal Outlook:
  Looking forward, Amherst faces annual budget shortfalls that could undermine the ability to deliver essential services – by the town, schools, and library – in the years to come. The town must calibrate its budgets to meet the revenues available and seek additional funding. Short-term, yearly cutbacks are unsustainable. Town staff will look to engage decision-makers in thoughtful, long-range fiscal planning, innovations in service delivery, and collaborations across all levels of government.