sus·tain·a·ble (sə-stā'nə-bəl) adj. of sustain; 1. to keep in existence; maintain.
We have a beautiful and wonderous small town here in Amherst, Massachusetts! How can we sustain our quality of life? How do we strengthen the things we love about Amherst?
- strong public schools
- green open space
- diversity
- a family-friendly, small-town feel
- not soaking the taxpayer
You say it's impossible to provide all these services while not soaking the taxpayer? We don't think so. But it will require a strong local economy to create sustainable revenue growth for the town.
We believe that fiscal sustainability, driven by a strong economic base, is the key to achieving these goals. Amherst does not have that today. New town revenue has lagged over the past years, businesses have left town, no new major businesses have moved to Amherst in years, we do not have mutually beneficial relationships with our local colleges, and as a result we have been constantly cutting funding to our schools and other town services while simultaneously raising taxes.
We need leadership in Amherst that will move us forward so we are not continually cutting services and waiting on the state to bail us out. Leadership in Town Meeting, the Select Board, and on town committees to make the tough choices.
Fiscal sustainability can be achieved through long-term, strategic planning that broadens our town's tax-base. Actively promoting green, sustainable economic development that architecturally befits Amherst; actively marketing our town to attract new knowledge-based businesses; engaging our local colleges & universities in joint programs and projects that benefit them and the town; as well as creating efficiencies in our town government and spending wisely.
Our Mission
Protect and enhance Amherst's quality of life by creating a more fiscally sustainable town that can support strong schools and services, open space, diversity, and a family-friendly, small town feel, without overburdening the taxpayers.
Our Action Plan
- Communicate information on Amherst's fiscal sustainability to residents.
- Propose legislation and strategies to Town Meeting, the Select Board, and other town committees to improve Amherst's fiscal sustainability.
- Monitor town boards and committees and the legislation that passes through them that impacts Amherst's fiscal sustainability.
- Support candidates for Town Meeting, Select Board, and other town committees and boards, who support the SustainableAmherst agenda.
