Now on view through May 31, 2020

To the editor:

      With Voting Day fast approaching on June 8th, we wanted to quickly review what is on the ballot for the Amherst School District. 

      Budget Information: The delay in voting this year has allowed the board to further refine the proposed operating budget. The most important needs of our schools have been clarified and we have been able to evaluate the budget using firmer numbers.  After the Board arrived at a proposed operating budget in February, our partners on the Amherst School District Ways Means Committee felt more could be done to reduce costs. That, coupled with ongoing board discussions, led the board to successfully make a motion to reduce the proposed budget by $150,000 at the May deliberative session. This cut was accomplished by eliminating much of the proposed technology budget.  

      The current difference between the proposed budget and the default is $300,160. The gap between proposed and default includes: two new teachers (salaries and benefits) at AMS for $199,852; $50,300 for increased utilities; $9,642 for new chorus risers (current risers are a student safety hazard); $12,700 for a “School Zone” safety beacon on Jones Rd.; and $34,116 in various other items such as small maintenance repairs at the buildings, security camera and radio replacements, and increased custodial supplies. 

      We are aware of the significant increase to this year’s default budget. The change is due to items outside our control like special education expenses, rising health insurance costs, and a mandated increase to the New Hampshire Retirement System. This retirement program is provided for in RSA 100-A and is available to any full-time district employee, at the employee’s discretion.  As with past years, this budget has been reviewed carefully by elected and appointed officials and is the collective best efforts of everyone involved. 

      The board voted 5-0 to approve this new proposed operating budget and the Amherst School District Ways Means Committee voted 4-2 to support this budget.  

      Facilities Warrant Article: Last year, the Board asked voters to begin funding the Capital Facilities Expendable Trust Fund as a separate warrant article. This is part of a multi-year plan to set aside funds to maintain our existing facilities with a relatively stable impact to taxpayers.  An expendable trust helps avoid drastic swings in taxes from year to year. This year, you will again see a separate warrant article for up to $500,000. No further taxes will be used to subsidize this warrant article, as it will be funded by any surplus revenue we have left at the end of this fiscal year.

      This fund acts as a savings account and will be used to repair or replace big ticket items in our buildings such as roofs, HVAC, parking lots, etc. If, in the future, voters approve significant construction and renovation at any of our buildings, some of this money can be used to offset the cost of a bond. The board voted 5-0 to approve this warrant article and the Amherst School District Ways Means Committee voted 6-0 to support this article.  

      Additional Warrant Articles: This year, voters will find two additional warrant articles on the ballot. The first is a five-year tuition agreement with Mont Vernon. The new tuition agreement has a new cost-per-pupil formula that makes budgeting easier for both districts. The second warrant article is a five-year lease agreement with the SAU for the Brick School. This lease agreement is the same as in prior years, with the only change stating that the SAU is responsible for all maintenance to the building. The board voted 5-0 to approve these warrant articles and the Amherst School District Ways Means Committee voted 6-0 to support these articles.