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 probably about $75,000 for town council services in the last few years...and I think we come accustomed to using town council for more things than we should," Andrew said, adding the town will track those costs more closely.

Another notable transfer covers school transportation for agricultural high schools (Bristol Aggie and Norfolk Aggie). Finance staff reported the line needed about $24,000 above what was appropriated, in part because contracts charge fixed daily and hourly rates that can vary with run time. Select Board member Candido criticized the cost for transporting two students to Norfolk Aggie and said the town should seek alternatives and a clearer breakdown: "I would actually say it is so unacceptable that I would be game for a friendly lawsuit," Candido said, urging staff to review past procurement and to consult the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) where appropriate.

Other transfers covered facilities expenses ($22,000), animal control callback stipends (about $8,000), increased supplies for animal control, and a snow-and-ice deficit of $37,312. Town staff told the board that unspent salary lines and other surpluses would offset some requests; any remaining surplus at year-end would close to free cash as usual.

Select Board action: Select Board member Candido moved to approve the transfers under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 33B; the motion passed on a roll call with Carbone, Candido and Hunt voting aye. The Finance Committee held a concurrent abbreviated meeting and voted to approve the transfers; roll-call recorded attendees saying "aye." Finance committee members requested staff provide a vendor-by-vendor breakdown for the agricultural transportation line and to produce a quarterly tally of outside-legal spending.

The board directed staff to provide: (1) a written breakdown of the transportation costs by vendor and student, (2) a quarterly summary of legal billing by department, and (3) an analysis of options to control recurring legal costs and agricultural transportation outlays. The transfers take effect retroactive to June 30, 2025, per the transfer motion.

The action was taken under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 33B (transfer of appropriations) and was recorded during the remote meeting format allowed by Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023.