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Litchfield officials seek state-funded forensic audit after Region 20 invoices revised to $2.2 million
Summary
Litchfield selectmen backed asking the state for a forensic audit after town staff said duplicate invoices reduced Region 20 deficit invoices to about $2.2 million; questions remain about amounts owed by Region 6 and prior oversight during regionalization.
Litchfield selectmen on March 3 endorsed pursuing a state-funded forensic audit after town staff said duplicate invoices were removed from Region 20 records, lowering the total of deficit invoices to approximately $2.2 million.
First Selectman Denise Raap said she and Warren First Selectman Greg LaCava will travel to Hartford to submit in‑person testimony on HB 5323, the bill that would provide State assistance for a forensic audit of Region 6 and Litchfield Public Schools. Matt Tobin told the board that, after removing duplicate entries, the set of Region 20 deficit invoices totaled roughly $2.2 million, down from an earlier figure of about $2.6 million.
The board flagged inconsistent accounting details that remain unresolved. Tobin and Finance Director Amaechi Obi reported differing reconciliations of amounts Region 6 may owe Litchfield: a previous auditor had identified about $178,000, while Region 20 cited $118,000. Obi said the former auditor could not reconcile the difference because some invoices were still outstanding and a new, comprehensive review should be able to resolve the gap.
Several selectmen said the discrepancy raises questions about prior budget votes. John Bongiorno said votes on past Region 20 budgets may have been made on incomplete information, and Jeff Zullo observed that a forensic audit typically examines potential fraud or financial mismanagement. Selectman Dan Morosani said a State-funded forensic audit would provide a comprehensive review of Region 20, Region 6 and the Litchfield Public Schools and give the town a clearer accounting of funds.
Board members also discussed whether Region 20's FY25 financials should be included in testimony on HB 5323 to show the scales of the discrepancies. Jodiann Tenney read Section 5 of HB 5323 during the meeting to confirm her understanding that the State would conduct the audit.
The board did not take a formal vote during this agenda item but agreed to pursue the HB 5323 route and to include reconciled figures in forthcoming testimony. Raap is scheduled to testify in Hartford; the board said it expects the audit, if authorized, to capture smaller invoices and other items not previously reviewed.
Next steps: Raap will proceed to provide testimony on HB 5323 with supporting reconciled financial details and the board will follow any State guidance on the audit request.
