Accountability Posts

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FY2026 budget increase and direct tax impact on Amherst property owners

Amherst Board of Selectmen (1/13/25) approved a $18.3M FY2026 budget — a 4.9% increase. Estimated tax impact: +$25.02/year on a $482K home. Key drivers: new police contract, stormwater compliance, road maintenance. Deliberative session coming. Are you paying attention?

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Sole source procurement concern on $170K communications tower contract

At the 1/13/25 Amherst selectmen meeting, the board debated whether hiring Two Way Communications for a $170K radio tower is a 'sole source' contract — bypassing competitive bidding. They approved $20K in preliminary work anyway. The full contract decision is still ahead. Watch this one.

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Fiscal prudence question on aging fire apparatus purchase under time pressure

Amherst selectmen (1/13/25) approved a $225K purchase of a 24-year-old fire platform truck from an Alabama vendor. The town had been without an aerial apparatus for months. Urgency drove the decision — but does a 2001 truck represent sound long-term value? Fair question for Town Meeting.

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Zero public participation at a formally noticed public hearing on major fiscal decisions

Amherst had a legally required public hearing on 1/13/25 — the FY2026 budget AND a $1.9M fire truck bond were both on the notice. Zero residents spoke. The board moved through $18M+ in decisions without a single public comment. Awareness is the first step.

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🧵 Amherst Board of Selectmen — Jan. 13, 2025: A busy meeting with $18M+ in spending decisions, a sole source procurement debate, and zero public comment. Here's what you need to know before Town Meeting. (1/6)

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💰 FY2026 Budget: $18.3 million — up 4.9% from last year. Main cost drivers are a new police contract, stormwater compliance mandates, and road maintenance. Tax hit on an average $482K home: ~$25/year. All 20 warrant articles passed 5-0 for deliberative session. (2/6)

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🚒 $1.9M bond for a new aerial fire truck cleared the board 5-0. Separately, the chief recommended buying a USED 2001 platform truck from Alabama for $225K — approved immediately due to months without aerial coverage. Both decisions will face voters at Town Meeting. (3/6)

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⚠️ Procurement flag: The board debated whether awarding a $170K communications tower contract to Two Way Communications — without new competitive bids — qualifies as a sole source procurement. They approved $20K in preliminary engineering anyway. The full award decision is coming. (4/6)

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🛤️ Rail trail funding: Two separate grant match articles were combined into ONE $888,254 commitment over 5 years (20% town match on $2M+ in grants). It will require a 60% supermajority at Town Meeting. The board also authorized a Community Power electricity program targeting April launch. (5/6)

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📢 Bottom line: A formally noticed public hearing was held on the FY2026 budget and the $1.9M bond. Not one resident showed up to speak. Two longtime board members also announced they won't seek reelection. Amherst, your Town Meeting vote matters. Show up. (6/6)

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Longer-form draft.

📋 AMHERST BOARD OF SELECTMEN — January 13, 2025: What Was Decided and Why It Matters

The Board of Selectmen held a formally noticed public hearing and voted on more than 20 warrant articles at their January 13th meeting — covering over $18 million in spending. Here's a plain-language breakdown of the most significant decisions heading to Town Meeting.

💸 BUDGET & TAXES: The board unanimously approved sending an $18.3 million FY2026 operating budget to deliberative session — a 4.9% increase over the prior year. The main cost drivers are a new police union contract, stormwater compliance requirements, and road maintenance. The estimated tax impact is approximately $25.02 per year on an average $482,000 home in Amherst. Every warrant article passed 5-0.

🚒 FIRE DEPARTMENT: Two separate but related decisions. First, the board approved a $1.9 million bond authorization to purchase a new aerial/tower truck — with a 10-year sunset clause expiring June 30, 2035. Second, and separately, the Fire Chief returned from Alabama recommending a $225,000 purchase of a used 2001 platform truck from Brinley Mountain as a near-term fix, noting the town has been without aerial firefighting capability for months. That purchase was approved 5-0 and will be funded first from impact fees, then from the Capital Reserve Fund. Residents should be prepared to evaluate both decisions at Town Meeting.

⚠️ PROCUREMENT QUESTION — COMMUNICATIONS TOWER: The board debated whether awarding a $170,000 radio tower replacement to Two Way Communications constitutes a sole source contract. The police chief cited system compatibility and public safety needs. The board approved $20,000 in preliminary engineering from the Capital Reserve Fund, but the full contract award is still pending. The sole source question was not fully resolved — residents and Ways & Means Committee members should ask for documentation on why competitive re-bidding was not required.

🛤️ RAIL TRAIL & COMMUNITY POWER: Two separate Souhegan Greenway rail trail grant match articles were combined into a single $888,254 multi-year commitment (the town's required 20% match on more than $2 million in state/federal grants). Because it's a multi-year appropriation, it will require a 60% supermajority vote at Town Meeting. The board also authorized the acting Town Administrator to negotiate Community Power electricity pricing, with a target April rollout — residents who don't opt out would automatically be enrolled if rates beat Eversource's default.

📢 Finally: A legally required public hearing was held at this meeting covering the FY2026 budget and the $1.9M bond. Zero residents attended to speak. Two veteran board members — with a combined 23 years of service — also announced they will not seek reelection. Amherst is entering a period of transition. Your voice at Town Meeting is how these decisions get made.