Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taunton finance team says city prepared for possible federal funding pauses through July
Summary
City finance leaders told the council they have reconciled federal awards, modified contracts to allow pausing work if reimbursements stop, and maintain contingency plans that the city and schools can operate through July 1, 2025; stabilization reserves have grown to roughly $40 million, they said.
Taunton’s finance team briefed the municipal council on steps the city has taken to track federal grant exposure and to prepare for potential funding pauses or cuts at the federal level.
Mayor O’Connell opened the presentation by saying the administration and its finance experts have been monitoring changing federal guidance since January and invited the finance team to summarize what they have done. The city’s finance lead summarized a reconciliation of federal awards, noting that the team had reviewed program eligibility, created unique GL codes for grants and insisted on firm contracts (rather than purchase orders) to secure federal funding commitments.
The auditors and finance staff described the single‑audit process and said they have reconciled Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME allocations. “The city and schools have a contingency plan that takes us through 07/01/2025,” a finance official said, adding the city believed current contracts and reserves would allow basic operations to continue while the federal picture evolves.
City officials said they had taken several protective steps: modifying major‑project contracts to include pause or force‑majeure language; keeping frequent contact with the congressional delegation and the attorney‑general’s office about litigation and policy developments; coordinating with state partners for potential stopgap programs; and maintaining monthly or biweekly internal reviews of at‑risk programs. The auditor explained that federal grants are tracked in separate funds (Fund 20 for city grants; Fund 21 for school grants) and that the city’s outside auditors perform a single audit when federal expenditures meet the reporting threshold.
Officials also highlighted financial indicators they said bolster Taunton’s position: an expanded stabilization balance approaching $40 million and ongoing work to reconcile federal award schedules. Councilors asked for written materials and an accessible copy of the presentation; a motion to publish the presentation on the city website passed.
