Article 24:
Vehicle Expendable Trust Fund (UFB) ($45,000)
Warrant Article Language
Shall the Amherst School District raise and appropriate the sum of up to forty five thousand dollars ($45,000) to be added to the Vehicle Expendable Trust Fund previously established in March 2024? This sum to come from the June 30, 2026 unassigned fund balance (surplus) available for transfer on July 1, 2026. No amount to be raised from new taxation. Majority vote required.
Recommended by the Amherst School Board (5-0)
Recommended by the Amherst School District Ways & Means (advisory budget committee)(7-0)
Estimated tax impact of passing this article is: $0.00 per thousand.
Estimated tax impact of not passing this article is:- $0.02 per thousand.
BOARD EXPLANATION
This expendable trust fund is designated for the purchase of vehicles necessary to support district operations. These vehicles serve essential functions within both the facilities and athletic departments. No new taxes would be required for this contribution, as the funding would be drawn from the year-end surplus.
Current Fleet of Vehicles & Replacement Schedule
Facilities:
2008 Truck (replace w/Truck & Salter FY26),
2002 Sedan (replace w/Transit Connect FY28),
2008 Minivan (replace w/Transit Connect FY29),
2012 Gator (replace FY30).
Athletics:
2024 10 Passenger Van (replace FY40)
AMHERST WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE COMMENTS
This warrant article allows the district to save money towards the purchase of vehicles to be used by the school for transportation, including interscholastic sports transportation. The district currently has four vehicles ranging in age from 14 years old to 24 years old. The current plan is to replace these vehicles over a five-year span. Approval of this warrant article would support the purchase of the first of these four vehicles this year while maintaining a small balance in the vehicle project fund to be used for future vehicle purchases. Since there is no doubt that these vehicles will all need to be replaced, it seems to be a fiscally responsible choice to approve this warrant article to allow the replacement of the first vehicle now before the prices go up. The Committee unanimously supports this warrant article.
VOICE OF THE VOTER
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