Select Board discusses seeking state auditor review; asks staff for cost estimate and placeholder warrant article

The Town of Templeton Select Board discussed Feb. 26 whether to request a municipal audit by the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office. The board reviewed the statutory process — a request originates with a majority vote of the select board and must be ratified at a special or annual town meeting — and agreed it would first seek a cost estimate before asking voters to approve a state‑conducted audit.

A board member reported that Andrew Carden from the state auditor’s office advised the town in writing on the procedural steps. The board asked staff to obtain an estimate of any likely expense so a dollar amount can be placed on a town meeting warrant article if the Select Board chooses to proceed. One board member said it is preferable to place a placeholder article on the warrant and remove it later than to risk bringing an unbudgeted request to town meeting without cost information.

The board did not vote to request the state audit at this meeting. Instead, members asked the town administrator to continue discussions with the state auditor’s office, obtain cost information, and prepare a warrant article for consideration. The board indicated it would want a dollar estimate prior to final placement on the warrant and acknowledged that a state audit’s benefits include independent financial review and recommendations for improving internal control.