I think I do not understand something.

Article 27: did the town just agree to lower the tax exemption for the blind, elderly and disabled and, at the same time, raise the annual qualifying income for the same? I can see how that would improve the bottom line for the town... but it strikes me that we just did something ugly - increasing the burden on the blind, elderly and disabled. What am I missing?

Another observation, this time regarding the high school budget.

The town voted "yes" on the building and maintenance budget, but "no" on the budget supporting the people who work there and the people who rely on the services provided there.

Lee N,
I may not this right, but from how I heard it explained by Mr Galinson and Mr Brew was that after a reval these numbers have to be adjusted. Since property values went down at the last reval to keep it in line the assessment amounts needed to decrease and the income level needed to be increased. I did some math using the old values and the new values and the exemptions amounts for elderly, blind and disabled appear to be the same. I hope this helps some and I hope I explained it as to how I understood it. If not then maybe a selectman will see this and explain it right if this isn't correct.

I don't get people in the town of amherst..... If we start cutting back on things today we are going to fail as a whole town. education is important to ours children. So why not vote for the budget. If we can't educate our children nor pay the stuff to teach them why vote down the budget. Also on another point why vote down a new rescue pumper. 9 cents on taxer payers thats nothing for a town this size and the population.
the old truck is old would u wanna drive a 80's car or truck today. more then likely not. so why put firefighters in a not safe truck thats maybe coming to save lives or can't even make it to a scene. its about saving lives. its not about getting a new truck its about being there for the town of amherst citizens.

OH BALONEY.

As a fact it would be true about home owners insurance will go up. amherst has a pretty good rating right now but if you take an engine out of service thats a pump and water not coming on wheels. which means more time to wait for another truck from another town. Which means u spending money on your insurance more then u would for a new truck on your taxes so one hand washes another hand.

engine #2 is not gone it's just old. they have to overhaul it at some point. they also have plenty of other engines. they are a very well funded small town fire department thanks to all the money you're still sending them each year

Now is not the time for tax increases. It is a time to search for more efficiency to make the tax dollars that are already being levied do more. Especially in the area of education! These are the same choices that are being made in most american homes with respect to family budgets. We expect the same from our public sector and that's the message that should be taken from this year's election results. Nice work, voters!