Amherst League of Women Voters

Study of the Impact on Town Services from the FY2010 Budget Cutbacks
Amherst League of Women Voters, February 2010

In May 2009, the Amherst League of Women Voters initiated a one-year study of the impact on services in our community resulting from the budget cutbacks in the constrained FY2010 Town budget. We focused on the town departments and the libraries, interviewing or sending questionnaires to department heads and studying Town budget documents.

Our study began before an override question was proposed. The League does not have a position on an override and we will not be presenting arguments for or against one. Our purpose is to share with you the factual information we have gathered. We hope that our report will help Amherst residents understand how town departments are functioning now and that this will contribute to the community dialogue about next year’s budget.

We present a general overview, followed by specific information on each town department and the libraries.