Amherst Voters Approve School, Town Operating Budgets

AMHERST, NH — Voters in Amherst had only a few competitive races Tuesday but did approve operating budgets for the town, school district, and Souhegan Cooperative School District. In the cemetery trustee race, Marie Grella bested Francis Beaudoin by more than 950 votes in the only competitive race in 2020 on the town ballot. Voters also approved of a $14.6 million operating budget by more than 700 votes.

Amherst voters also approved every article on the ballot including raised for employees, fund transfers, and zoning changes.

Two articles had tight results: A plan to spend $287,500 for a side path for pedestrians and bikes on Amherst Street was approved by around 175 votes; a petition for an innovative housing ordinance amendment, that was not supporting by the planning board, had a vote of 1,385 to 1,279.

View the full town ballot here.

School Ballot

Voters in Amherst also approved the town's proposed school budget. By a 1,717 to 1,121 vote, the nearly $29 million budget passed. Voters also approved Article 13, a $300,000 school improvement trust fund transfer by more than 900 votes.

Terri Behm and Josh Conklin were also elected to three-year seats on the school board with John Glover coming in third, missing by 100 votes.

View the local Amherst school ballot here.

Regional Ballot

Voters approved of a nearly $18.4 million Souhegan Cooperative School District budget by more than 960 votes.

Amy Facey and Stephanie Grund were also elected to three-year school board seats besting Tony Labranche and Christine Peters.

Staff pay increases in the district were also approved by more than 740 votes while a $100,000 maintenance trust fund transfer was approved by nearly 1,200 votes.

View the full vote results here.

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