More Funding Added To Town Budget

Funding for health & human services agencies was cut once, cut again and finally added back into the proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year.

The Board of Selectmen voted to add $13,040 in funding after a recommendation from Rick Katzenberg at the public hearing on Tuesday night. That now makes this line of the proposed budget $47,590 and increases the total operating budget to $11,101,696.

Katzenberg, who serves as chair of the health and human services committee, said that agencies, such as SHARE, Meals on Wheels and Opportunity Networks support many Amherst residents throughout the year. He said that if these programs were to be reduced or eliminated, the town would have to pay more money to replace their services.

“You can cut these agencies back to the point where you are responsible for all of the goods and services that they provide,” he said. “Numerous agencies are giving us a heck of a deal."

Marilyn Peterman said she is on the board for SHARE and stated that when the economy goes down, the needs go up for clients.

She added that the town would have to hire personnel and would have additional expenses if it were to lose the services of these agencies.

Ways and Means Committee member Maggie Paul said that town departments have had cut back on their spending this budget season, even if they have needs.

“As wonderful as these agencies are, I don't think we should give them the full amount,” she said. “We don't give the full amount to our departments.”

The Board of Selectmen initially voted in agency funding last month, based on the recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee. It was also cut by an additional $1,750

Selectman Brad Galinson said he supported the increase to agency funding, but only if that same amount was subtracted from the contingency fund. His amendment was not added to the motion.

The board had previously decided to cut $10,000 from their contingency fund, . The contingency fund in the proposed budget is currently $70,000.

Galinson said that the budget was already up 6 percent and he would not support it if the board added another increase.

“We represent the citizens of Amherst,” said Galinson. “There is only so much the citizens can bear in tax increases.”

He agreed that multiple departments that are also essential to the town, such as the police department, have had to go without certain needs this budget season. 

Selectman George Infanti said that the citizens who cannot afford the tax increases are the ones that the town needs to support through these programs. He added that he was against taking money out of the contingency fund because they would need it this year.

Discussion also centered around forming a committee that would decide how to allocate funding for these agencies, based on the amount of citizens they service in town.

Amherst's deliberative session for the 2012 Town Warrant, including the operating budget, will be held Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.