Amherst supervisor outlines 2027 budget pressures as levy rises 6.9%

Supervisor opened the noon work session and said the town’s proposed 2027 budget would carry $188,000,000 in appropriations against estimated revenues of $66,000,000 and a $7.6 million fund balance. He told the board and residents the draft would raise $113,000,000 through property taxes, up from $106,000,000 last year — a $7.3 million change that represents a 6.9% change to the levy.

"The appropriations you're seeing right here, right, that's gonna take you to a $188,000,000," the supervisor said, framing personal services, fixed assets and contractual obligations as the principal cost drivers. He said personal-service growth into 2027 includes roughly $3.6 million in contractual obligations tied to negotiated union agreements. The supervisor also noted a fixed-asset increase partly tied to a planned occupancy tax, with 25% of that revenue reinvested in youth, recreation and community buildings if enacted on schedule.

Board members repeatedly pressed for clearer breakdowns of the levy impact on households and for follow-up materials; the supervisor said department heads would provide detailed line-item context during the session. The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn that the board seconded and endorsed; no budget adoption vote occurred at this work session.