AMHERST — Near annual challenges in putting together budgets for the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools that meet the financial guidelines set by the Amherst Town Council is leading to the concept of forming a joint town and school task force, which would be responsible for examining educational needs over a five- to 10-year period.

While the task force idea has been pitched by District 5 Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier, along with Regional School Committee Chairwoman Sarahbess Kenney of Pelham and Amherst School Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Shiao, the Long Range Fiscal Impacts Task Force could be formed by the school committees.

“Really, I think we as joint school committees need to have a dedicated task force studying these matters and advising us directly,” Shiao said during a joint meeting on April on April 8 that also included the Pelham School Committee

Shiao explained that the task force could look at forecasted trends and associated needs, including demographic shifts and fiscal changes at the state and federal levels. Short-term recommendations could be made by Dec. 15 and long-term recommendations by May 1, 2026.

The panel would have four School Committee representatives, one each from the Amherst and Pelham school committees and two from the Regional School Committee, a resident from any of the four towns appointed jointly by the school committees, a Town Council representative and one representative apiece from the Select Boards in Shutesbury, Leverett and Pelham.

Devin Gauthier wrote in a memo that the “task force is intentionally collaborative, looking to find a common approach to determining service needs in years to come.”

But her idea was complicated by having members from committees and the Town Council, and how to abide by the town charter while involving other communities. Still, the idea is expected to discuss at the April 28 Town Council meeting.

Members of the various school committees had varied reactions to Shiao’s concept.

“I really think this is a great thing, and I would support it,” said Pelham representative William Sherr.

Amherst representative Deb Leonard said there needs to be conversations and finding some way to have issues brought forward so there are fewer arguments, such as over staffing.

Kenney said she likes that shared information will be presented, so all officials are operating with the same data and facts. Kenney said this will help with moving conversations forward.

Leverett representative Tilman Wolf said he supports the idea if it would lead to less surprises during the budget process, but is not sure that would happen in practice. He worries about the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute enrollment projections, that it will be a lot of work that is already known.

“It’s not clear to me that this committee will come up anything other than the observation that we have a declining (student) population, we have underfunded schools to provide the high-quality education and that there is a structural problem because the state is not paying enough, and that we need to raise taxes or find money elsewhere,” Wolf said.

Shiao, though, believes the task force could develop strategies and make recommendations that could have an impact.

“There are a lot of things to be studied, and there are a lot of variables to be considered,” Shiao said.

Amherst representative Sarah Marshall said she shares some of Wolf’s concerns, especially since the school committees have little control over resources available.

“What is within our control or power, to make some very specific suggestions, is on the budgeting side, and not on the revenue side,” Marshall said.

Amherst representative Bridget Hynes said she wonders how the new task force would interact with an existing fiscal sustainability subcommittee, and that it might reduce conflict, though it could also increase it.

Without a clear mission and objective, Amherst representative Irv Rhodes said he is concerned. “I don’t know what the deliverables are: they’re not spelled out,” Rhodes said.

While many clamoring for the committee, Shutesbury representative Anna Heard said it is a frustrating proposal. “But I don’t see this particular ask as being super helpful in the budgeting process,” Heard said.

Margaret Stancer, who chairs the Pelham School Committee, said many understand that art, music and special programs will be cut if the money isn’t there to support them.

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