It’s surprising that Amherst CPA Committee Chair Sam Macleod believes that by contributing 80% of the cost for the new Amherst Regional High School track and field facility, Amherst is paying “more than its fair share” (“Town may add $800K more for track project,” Aug. 6). Even setting aside the fact that the town of Amherst has far more financial resources at its disposal than all three of the other district towns combined, and setting aside the fact that the facility is physically located in Amherst and thus is far easier for Amherst residents to access than for residents of the other towns, Macleod’s comment ignores the distribution of student population at the high school. Last year, Amherst Regional High School had 841 students, of whom 620 — or 74% — were from Amherst. Just 82 were from Leverett, 74 from Pelham, and 65 from Shutesbury. It’s only equitable that how we share the costs for a regional resource be determined by considering both the differing means available to the region’s individual communities as well as the question of which communities will be making the most use of that resource.

Matteo Pangallo

Shutesbury