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TOWN OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

         FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

 

                                                                and

 

                   RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE

                  249th ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

 

 

 

                                   APRIL 28, 2008

                                 7:30 O'Clock p.m.

           Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium

 

 

2008 TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE

 

                                             Town Meeting Begins:

 

                                               MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008

 

The following dates are tentative.  Town Meeting will decide each night when the next session will be.

 

                            WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

 

                                                   MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008

 

                                 MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008

 

                             WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008

 

                                 MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008

 

                             WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008

 

                             WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2008

 

                                                     

                                                                                

 

 

                                      All meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.

                                           Meetings will be held at:

                         Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium

 

 

 

 

 

                    THERE ARE ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER

                                OF REPORTS AVAILABLE.

                  PLEASE BRING THIS REPORT WITH YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   The Woodblock of the Amherst Town Hall is by Barbara Yaukey

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                                                                           1

 

AMHERST TOWN BYLAWS - ARTICLE 1                                                                                                        3

 

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGET PROCESS                                                                      4

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT TO AMHERST CITIZENS                                                                      5

 

CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES/EXPENDITURE SUMMARY FY 06                                                        10

 

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES

 

        ARTICLE 1          Reports of Boards and Committees                                                                                12

 

        ARTICLE 2          Transfer of Funds – Unpaid Bills                                                                                   12

 

        ARTICLE 3          Optional Tax Exemptions                                                                                                12

 

        ARTICLE 4          Personal Property Exemptions                                                                                        12

 

        ARTICLE 5          Authorization for Compensating Balance Accounts                                                     12

 

        ARTICLE 6          Retirement Assessment                                                                                                    13

 

        ARTICLE 7          Regional Lockup Assessment                                                                                          13

 

        ARTICLE 8          FY 08 Budget Amendments                                                                                            13

 

        ARTICLE 9          Town Libraries Revolving Fund                                                                                     13

 

        ARTICLE 10        Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Assessment Method                                  14

 

        ARTICLE 11        Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Agreement Amendments                         14

 

        ARTICLE 12        FY 2009 Operating Budget                                                                                              15

                    PUBLIC SAFETY                                                                                                                                18

                    PUBLIC WORKS                                                                                                                                20

                    PLANNING/CONSERVATION/INSPECTIONS                                                                           22

                    COMMUNITY SERVICES                                                                                                                24

                    GENERAL GOVERNMENT                                                                                                             26

                    GENERAL FUND INDEBTEDNESS                                                                                               28

                    LIBRARY SERVICES                                                                                                                       30

                    AMHERST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS                                                                                         32

                    AMHERST-PELHAM REGIONAL SCHOOLS                                                                              35

                    WATER FUND                                                                                                                                    39

                    SEWER FUND                                                                                                                                     40

                    SOLID WASTE FUND                                                                                                                       41

                    TRANSPORTATION FUND                                                                                                             42

 

        ARTICLE 13        Reserve Fund                                                                                                                    43

 

        ARTICLE 14        Capital Program – Chapter 90                                                                                        43

 

        ARTICLE 15        Capital Program – Equipment                                                                                        43

 

        ARTICLE 16        Capital Program – Buildings and Facilities                                                                    44

 

        ARTICLE 17        Capital Program – Bond Authorizations                                                                       44

 

        ARTICLE 18        Community Preservation Act – Affordable Housing                                                    45