Town Pays Off Bridge Costs To Free Up Funds

The Board of Selectmen were able to fund some desired items in the next default budget after fund transfers in the current town budget.

Town Administrator Jim O’Mara said that the Amherst Department of Public Works was able to allocate about $36,000 in funds towards engineering costs for bridge work. This means that the town does not have to draw from the Bridge Bond in the next fiscal year, and lets the selectman use that money elsewhere.

The State of New Hampshire redefined their original reimbursement commitment to the town by only funding engineering work on bridge work rather than the whole project. The town has only spent the Bridge Bond on the necessary engineering to begin these projects.

Eighty percent of that amount will eventually be refunded to the town, but Amherst DPW director Bruce Berry said he did not know when that would occur.

The newly-freed funds will be used on crack sealing work on roads, gravel costs and health and human service agencies in Amherst. A portion will also be put into the contingency fund.

Selectmen approved the $10,853,361 default budget last month.