We have a time-sensitive opportunity for you to advocate for school funding, Friday November 8th, 9:00 AM at the Amherst Finance Committee Meeting. You can join by Zoom and make a public comment at the beginning of the meeting or send public comment via email, as below. The meeting was only announced on November 5th.
The Finance Committee will be discussing how to spend the town’s FY24 available surplus which is $5,277,426. As leftover free cash, this money can’t really be used for operating expenses, such as to pay teacher salaries, but it can be used for one-time or capital expenditures. The Town Manager’s current proposal currently allocates all of it to the Town’s capital projects savings account as well as to Department of Public Works functions such as roads and sidewalks, equipment, etc…You can see the full breakdown here.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION:
- Attend the virtual Finance Committee meeting tomorrow, November 8th, 9:00 AM. Zoom link: https://amherstma.zoom.
us/j/85166756344 - OR Send an email to the members of the Finance Committee, Mandi Jo Hanneke, Bob Hegner, Cathy Shoen, Andy Steinberg and Alisha Walker ( hannekem@amherstma.
gov, hegnerr@amherstma.gov, sc hoenc@amherstma.gov, steinberg a@amherstma.gov, walkere@ amherstma.gov) - Forward this email to your networks and ask them to take action too!
WHAT YOU CAN SAY:
- Ask the Finance Committee to slow down the appropriation of the surplus until they have had time to hear from all of the stakeholders, including the schools.
- Ask that they consider all needs and allocate a portion of the surplus to our schools.
- Ask that the schools, including the Middle School and High School, be made a priority in all funding decisions.
NEXT UPCOMING ACTION TO SUPPORT SCHOOL FUNDING: Monday November 18th, 6:30 PM Amherst Town Council Meeting. Save the Date! We will be sending out more information about that meeting soon.