Lakeville approves $243,162 in FY2025 budget transfers to cover legal bills, school transportation and snow costs

The Town of Lakeville Select Board and the town's Finance Committee voted July 14 to approve FY2025 budget transfers totaling $243,162 to cover deficits in multiple department lines, including legal fees, special-education transportation and snow-and-ice expenses.

The transfers were presented as “housekeeping” to close out the fiscal year and shift appropriations to lines that experienced overruns. Town Administrator Andrew (last name not specified) and Mike Ellis, the staff member presenting the transfer list, told the board the largest single overage was roughly $61,000 in outside legal services for town business. Ellis said some of the increase reflects timing—multiple months of bills arriving together—and steady fee increases from outside counsel. "We've budgeted…