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Bolton selectmen approve modest change to budget worksheets to show dollar and percentage change
Summary
Selectmen voted to modify town budget worksheets to include dollar and percentage change from the prior adopted year; staff said adding the two columns is feasible but two-year audited comparisons are constrained by audit timing.
The Bolton Board of Selectmen voted Dec. 2 to modify the town’s budget worksheets to show the dollar value and percentage change from the prior adopted year.
Jill, who oversees the town’s budget spreadsheets, told the board the existing Excel workbooks already roll departmental numbers into summary sheets and that adding a value-change and a percent-change column is feasible but will require time because there are more than 30 departmental worksheets and the annual audit timing limits availability of fully audited prior-year figures. "I don't foresee it being done in the next couple of weeks," she said, but added she can add the two columns and distribute updated sheets.
Board members pressed on whether to include audited two-year historical actuals or unaudited numbers; staff recommended showing prior adopted-year figures and unaudited recent actuals where audited totals are unavailable. A motion to add the value and percentage-change columns carried by voice vote, recorded as 6 yes, 1 absent.
Selectmen also agreed to consider moving scheduling of certain capital meetings to the finance committee in recognition of the town charter’s assignment of the finance committee to manage the capital process. The board did not change the current budget schedule for this cycle but asked the finance committee to review timing and post meetings appropriately.
