Finance Committee sends appropriation increase for income-tax office position to council

At its April 7, 2025 meeting, the Amherst Finance Committee voted 6-0 to send Ordinance 25-15 to the council. The ordinance would increase appropriations to fund a full-time position in the income tax office following the retirement of the incumbent.

Ramsey, who submitted the item, said the appropriation increases are intended to fund the full-time position that will replace the retired official. "These, the numbers are to fund that position," Ramsey said, and later specified the requested increases for the accounts identified as regular earnings, overtime and medical insurance: "which is 68,000, 3 thousand, and 11,000 respectively." Ramsey also said a posting for a deputy treasurer position had attracted "maybe 9 applications" since it went up the previous week.

Committee members clarified that the position is the secretary of the income tax office as listed in the town's codified ordinance, and the chair asked the administration to present the correct title when the ordinance returns to the council. Committee members also asked whether the position remains a union post; Ramsey said he understood it to still be a union position but that the mayor had been working with the union on arrangements.

Councilmember Nehorne moved to send Ordinance 25-15 to the floor of the council; Councilmember Wacholz seconded. The chair called the vote; the motion passed 6-0.

The ordinance will next appear before the full council for final action. Committee members requested that the administration change the internal label from "tax clerk" to the official title "secretary of the income tax office" on documents returned to council.