PELHAM — A 6% increase in the assessment for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools and the final step in establishing Valley Green Energy, a municipal community choice aggregation program for Pelham, Amherst and Northampton residents and businesses, were approved by voters at annual Town Meeting on Saturday.

All 20 articles brought before residents were passed unanimously, according to unofficial results provided by Town Clerk Melissa Hibbard, including a $5.51 million fiscal year 2025 municipal budget that is $256,236, or 4.8% higher, than this year’s $5.25 million budget.

The approval of the regional schools articles means that three of the four member towns, with Pelham joining Shutesbury and Leverett, have passed the modified assessment formula, which caps member contributions at 6%.

Pelham will have a $1.07 million regional schools assessment, that is $60,322 more than this year’s $1.01 million assessment, for a total fiscal year 2025 budget of $35.27 million for the middle and high schools.

Regional School Committee Chairwoman Sarahbess Kenney said, though, that the schools don’t have an official budget until Amherst Town Council takes action, as the assessment formula needs to be approved by all four member towns.

“The dollar amount needs three of the four towns to pass, however, the assessment method needs all four towns’ approval,” Kenney said.

It’s uncertain exactly how the 6% budget will affect staffing.

Claire Cocco, a teacher who handles publicity for the Amherst Pelham Education Association, said Interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter hasn’t yet provided specifics, but 12 staff members received reduction in force letters in April with a 4% budget. Cocco said there will still be cuts with 6%.

“The APEA of course wants to see the fully funded budget and hopes that the community, now and in the long-term, can work with all our local and state partners to make sure the schools are funded appropriately,” Cocco said.

With a 4% budget, some of those who work directly with children were going to lose their jobs, with earlier proposals to cut parts of the world language and dance programs, special education and counseling and restorative justice initiatives.

Valley Green Energy, other approvals

Meanwhile, Town Meeting’s vote means that Valley Green Energy can begin in the fall. The final approval of the inter-municipal community choice energy organization comes after the three communities signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2022 to engage Mass Power Choice and the state’s Department of Public Utilities approved the plan.

Voters also purchased a new medical response vehicle for the Fire Department for $40,000, using money from the capital equipment stabilization fund. That will replacing an existing vehicle.

The approvals also included $213,066 in free cash spending, with the largest amounts for school-related expenses, including $29,311 to pay the assessment for regional capital needs and $25,000 going into a special education reserve account for the elementary school and $10,000 for road work, $10,000 for boiler maintenance and replacement at the Community Center and $3,800 to repair the base of the steeple at the Pelham Historical Society Museum.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.