Opinion by George Ryan

What do the following Western Massachusetts towns all have in common: Belchertown, Hadley, South Hadley, Easthampton, Southampton, and Sunderland? Answer: they are all facing overrides or have just recently voted on one. 

On April 24, Sunderland passed an override raising their taxes by 10.7%. Southampton voters approved a $1.9M override on May 19, raising the average single family property tax bill there by $763. 

Easthampton has scheduled an override vote for June 9 to close a $6.4M structural deficit which if approved by the voters would raise on average yearly tax bills by nearly $1200. That is not a typo. 

Hadley voters will go to the polls on June 2 to choose between two override proposals, one for $850,000 and a second for $1.5M. Both are aimed at restoring lost firefighter positions and preserving existing town and school services, including DPW and general government staff. The smaller override would increase the average tax bill by $290 a year, the larger by $514. 

South Hadley voters decisively rejected two override proposals (one for $9M and another for $11M) that would have raised property tax by 50% over the next five years. It now faces serious cuts to its schools, public safety, DPW and service sectors. 

Belchertown passed a $2.9M override a year ago by just 21 votes.

And Northampton? The city has created a Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund and has used $5M of these reserves over the past 3 years to close budget gaps, including this year. But such an approach will require replenishing that fund and that will require an override in FY28. Longer term, the question in Northampton is whether it is prudent to fund recurring operational expenses through the use of one-time monies. The Mayor is convening a committee to take a comprehensive look at the city’s finances and its structural deficit. 

But the picture in Amherst is different.

This year the Town Manager is proposing a budget that shows an overall operating increase of 4.1% and a 5.1% increase to the elementary school budget. The budget includes a five-year, $25M plan for addressing the Town’s growing backlog of road repairs (including additional funding for potholes) to be funded through a combination of State money (Chapter 90) and Town dollars (Capital Plan and Free Cash). 

The FY27 Budget includes a plan to add seven firefighter/EMTs over the next four years so that the Town can fully staff three ambulances and a firetruck at all times. This will be funded through ambulance receipts and rate increases, not tax increases. 

Currently underway is a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Study which will address badly needed upgrades to our aging Wastewater Treatment Plant and assess the overall condition of our wastewater system, including staffing needs. 

The FY27 Budget includes a 7.9% increase for DPW to address longstanding wage and retention issues. 

And if we step back a moment from the FY27 Budget and look around Town we see that we continue to reap the benefits of past long range planning efforts. 

A newly renovated and pedestrian friendly South Common has become a popular gathering place at the steps of Town Hall. A new reoriented track and field at the Regional High School is completed and will be available to our athletes and residents in the Fall. The Amethyst Brook Elementary School will open its doors in August. A downtown public restroom will be in place at Kendrick Park this summer. A renovated and expanded Jones Library is well underway, on schedule and on budget, and will welcome the public in March. Work is ongoing at the Bangs Center to implement important health and safety upgrades but it will also include a new exercise space as well as a multipurpose room for seniors. And work will soon be commencing on the reconstruction of the War Memorial Pool House. 

While communities all around us are facing draconian choices Amherst is not. Why is it that our Town seems to be bucking these economic headwinds?

I want to suggest two principal reasons. 

The first is new growth. New growth reflects any significant improvements to or investments in a town’s housing, commercial properties, or utility infrastructure. New growth includes new construction and/or substantial renovations. In essence anything which increases the value of taxable property in the town. 

For the past 15 years Amherst has seen substantial new growth which has added significant revenues to the Town’s coffers. Nine large scale housing developments built over the last 12 years currently contribute $2.5M annually to the Town’s revenues. To put that into perspective, that is more than the entire yearly budget for our Conservation, Sustainability, Planning & Zoning, and Inspection Services departments combined, with money left over to fund Public Health and almost enough for Senior Services. 

While last year saw a significant decline in new growth there is good reason to be bullish about new growth at least in the short term. What drives new growth in Amherst? The success of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as a premier land grant research university. Unless Donald Trump succeeds in sabotaging American higher education UMass Amherst should continue to flourish…and along with it the Town.  

The second reason in my view is sustained, quality leadership. The Town has been the beneficiary of capable managers (John Musante, Paul Bockelman) as well as strong financial directors (Sandy Pooler, Sean Mangano) and a political leadership that takes their advice and counsel seriously. 

For many communities in our region economic stability is not guaranteed. It requires thoughtful stewardship and long term planning. We are not immune to the forces that our neighbors are facing. But we can and must plan wisely and prudently. 

What happens when you don’t is all too visible around us. 

George Ryan has lived in Amherst since 1987 and currently serves as Town Council representative for District 3.