Authority: Section 5.5 of the Amherst Home Rule Charter adopted on March 27, 2018 establishes a Finance Committee of the Town Council.

Responsibility: The Finance Committee shall:

• Advise the Town Council on all financial matters. The Committee shall review all annual budgets, supplemental budgets and other appropriations, and financial transfers; the capital inventory and capital improvement program and the infrastructure; the purchase, sale, or leasing of land and/or buildings; and borrowing and debt. [Sections 5.1-5.7]
• Have the authority at any time to investigate the books, accounts, and management of any Town agency and, via a request to the Town Manager, Superintendent, or Library Director, as appropriate, to require officers and employees of the Town to appear before it and to provide information. [Sec. 5.5(b)]

Membership: 

The Committee shall consist of five (5) Councilors as voting members and four (4) residents as non-voting members.

• One (1) Councilor from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Participatory Budgeting Commission. [Sec. 10.11]
• No more than two (2) Councilors from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Joint Capital Planning Committee (JCPC). [Sec. 5.7(b)]
• No more than two (2) Councilors from this Committee will represent the Town Council on the Budget Coordinating Group. [Sec. 5.2]

Charge Adopted:  December 17, 2018