Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Region20 Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Litchfield officials press for state forensic audit after Region 20 invoice discrepancies
Summary
Selectmen and staff flagged discrepancies in Region 20 invoices and expressed support for HB 5323, which would fund a state forensic audit of Region 6 and Litchfield Public Schools; Town officials plan in‑person testimony in Hartford.
First Selectman Denise Raap and members of the Litchfield Board of Selectmen said the town will press for a state-funded forensic audit after town staff reduced a previously reported Region 20 deficit from about $2.6 million to roughly $2.2 million.
Matt Tobin told the board that "the invoices provided by Region 20 totaled approximately $2.2 million" after duplicate invoices were removed and that he is maintaining a spreadsheet of vendor calculations. Tobin and board members raised concerns about inconsistent or incomplete prior budget information, including contractual expenses that might not have been fully included in earlier Region 20 budget votes.
Raap said she and Warren First Selectman Greg LaCava will travel to Hartford to submit in‑person testimony on HB 5323, legislation the board discussed as a vehicle for a forensic review. "A forensic audit would likely capture smaller invoices not reviewed previously," Raap said during the meeting. Several selectmen said state oversight is necessary to reconcile inter-district charges and provide a complete accounting of Region 20 and Region 6 finances.
Selectman Dan Morosani said a State-funded forensic audit "would provide a comprehensive review of Region 20, Region 6, and Litchfield Public Schools and offer a clearer understanding of the sources and uses of funds." Board members noted a discrepancy in amounts cited as owed to Litchfield: a prior auditor reported $178,000 while Region 20 cited $118,000; town staff said the difference remains unresolved because of outstanding invoices.
Finance Director Amaechi Obi told the board the previous auditor could not reconcile the figure due to missing invoices and said the new audit should be able to resolve outstanding items. Selectmen discussed including Region 20 FY25 financials in their testimony and said they hope lessons learned will strengthen State oversight for future regionalizations.
The board also noted related public meetings: a CTDOT hearing is scheduled for March 31 at Litchfield Intermediate School, and the board expects to present its concerns about regional finances during upcoming testimony in Hartford.
