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Budget committee presses for carry‑forward overhaul and asks select board to fund accounting help
Summary
Committee members debated a proposal to reduce operating carry‑forward accounts, voiced concern about missing FY24 audit numbers and asked the select board to authorize accounting support to reconcile carry‑forwards before finalizing FY27 recommendations.
The Phippsburg Budget Committee opened a lengthy debate March 31 about how the town treats operating carry‑forward accounts and whether a transition to fewer, clearer carry‑forwards should be implemented.
Chair introduced draft recommendation language acknowledging that externally audited balances were not available beyond FY24 and that FY27 recommendations were made without carry‑forward assumptions. Several members said using estimated carry‑forwards to set budgets is unreliable and urged the committee to treat revenue‑backed or capital accounts as exceptions rather than preserve the present large number of small carry‑forwards.
One member said the change is a "messy" transition year but preferred cleaner budgets going forward; another member suggested the select board seek an auditor endorsement and, if necessary, hire an outside accountant to reconcile carry‑forwards before the town warrant is finalized. Staff said the municipal auditor is backlogged and that some reconciliation work would require internal accounting effort.
The committee voted to table further specific police capital decisions until staff can supply audited carry‑forward numbers or a consultant reconciliation; the motion carried unanimously. Members scheduled follow‑up with the select board and said they would ask the board to consider funding or authorizing the accounting support needed to reconcile accounts.
