AMHERST - Opponents of the Proposition 2½ tax-cap override that will be decided at the March 23 town elections have formed a committee urging Amherst officials to balance the municipal budget by using more reserves and having town and school employees give up their raises.

Stan Gawle, spokesman and treasurer for Amherst Taxpayers for Responsible Change, said the aim of the opposition to the override is to get officials to understand that many people can't afford what he estimates will be a 7.5 percent increase in their tax bills.

"They've got to live within their means," Gawle said. "Instead, they keep trying to get overrides."

The group, whose chairwoman is Marjorie Crossman, of Dickinson Street, filed paperwork at the town clerk's office Monday. According to the paperwork, "the purpose of the organization is to defeat the override. High taxes are forcing the ordinary families to sell their homes because the town is less affordable."

This year's override is expected to be for up to $1.9 million.

The Select Board intends to finalize a decision on the size and format of the ballot question at its meeting Friday morning.

Gawle said the override is double taxation because there are sufficient financial reserves that could be used to preserve positions that may be eliminated at the schools and in town. "We're saying use the surplus or do the layoffs," Gawle said.

The name of the organization is the same as was used in 2007, when it successfully defeated what was called the Amherst plan, a $2.5 million override that also called for future spending caps, new revenue from the state and a local options meals tax, and attempts to broaden the tax base through economic development.

Gawle said the group expects to use the same yellow and black signs reading, "No More Overrides."

"Until the point where we feel the town is acting fiscally responsible and asking for a substantially more modest request, we'll keep using those signs," Gawle said.

Besides using more of reserves, Gawle said the group would like to see school district eliminate the 3.5-percent cost-of-living adjustments for teachers and other unionized employees in next year's budget. So far, only the police union is forgoing its COLAs.

A Web site will be launched in the near future to disseminate more information, he said.

The formation of a group opposed to the override comes after the Vote Yes for Amherst organization was created last month and launched a Web site and online petition at Yes4A.com.

These supporters of the override argue that without it, Amherst as a community will see a decline in the quality of life that has been built on good schools, public safety, recreation and open space.

"We need to come together to bridge the gap and protect our town. The national recession appears to be ending, but state aid cuts will persist for several years," reads a statement on the Web site.

Override supporters praise town and school officials for finding efficiencies, regionalizing services and closing a municipal swimming pool.