Department Heads Produce Tight Budget

The town had been focusing on priorities this budget season, which has led to a proposed budget that is 0.16 percent less than the default budget

A portion of the town departments presented their budgets to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Monday.

Most all of the departments included this week, including recreation, planning and the library, had either flat or reduced budgets.

“It was difficult and painful at times,” said town administrator Jim O’Mara.

The default budget for FY13 will be $10,853,361, which is a 3.62 percent increase over last year’s adopted budget.

This includes payments towards a bridge bond of $750,000 to repair red-listed bridges in town in danger of being closed down. It also has increases from the voter-approved contract with the police union and an expected rise in healthcare.

The  Board of Selectmen will be presented with budgets from more the town departments at their meeting next Monday, Nov. 14 at 6:15 p.m. in the Amherst Town Hall.