The Town of Rutland Select Board on Dec. 30 unanimously approved two audit reports and authorized the chair to sign required audit compliance letters, then voted to present a revised general budget to the voters while asking staff to correct inconsistencies in the summary sheet.

Auditor Andrew Simons and town treasurer Carrie Clark briefed the board on two audit products: the regular town financial audit and a single audit required because the town spent more than $750,000 in federal funds under the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. The board moved and seconded to authorize the chair to sign the compliance documents and later voted to accept both audits as prepared.

Why it matters: the audits clear the town’s accounts and identify operational recommendations while the budget vote commits the town to a package of departmental spending that will appear on the warning and at the pre‑town meeting. The board also signaled concern that the top-line summary presented to voters was inconsistent in how it reported department budgets, anticipated income and the net amount to be raised by taxes.

The audit management letter included operational recommendations the board agreed to act on: strengthen internal controls in the town clerk’s office (now a three‑person office), create a written disaster‑recovery/business‑continuity plan, develop a formal accounting manual and provide fraud‑awareness training for staff and elected officials. The chair said such steps would be scheduled and that the town will retain the auditor’s suggested documentation.

Budget questions centered on how to present income offsets and carryovers. Board members noted a $150,000 hotel-fund carryover and a possible school reimbursement associated with the school resource officer (SRO) that affect the 'amount to be raised by taxes' figure. Matt Geddy explained the police operating budget and said the figure shown as 'amount to be raised by taxes' ($543,135 for the police line) is accurate once the income lines are applied; other board members asked staff to provide a department-by-department line showing expense, income and net tax impact to avoid misleading percentage comparisons.

The vote: the board approved a motion to present the revised general budget to the voters (voice vote; motion carries 5‑0). The board also authorized the chair to sign the audit letters and approved the audit reports (both unanimous).

What’s next: staff will produce an updated summary sheet that lists each department’s total expenses, anticipated income and the net amount to be raised by taxes; the board scheduled department presenters for the pre‑town meeting in mid‑January to walk voters through the figures.