Limerick budget panel tables key tax-offset proposal amid audit and ledger concerns

A divided Limerick Select Board and Budget Committee on Jan. 5 tabled a proposal to use part of the town's unassigned fund to reduce the 2026 tax commitment after members said the town's accounting records and recent audit drafts left too many unanswered questions.

The meeting, held jointly in the municipal building, turned into a lengthy accounting review as committee members pressed staff and select board members for reconciled general-ledger entries and clearer audit documentation. ‘‘Nobody trusts these numbers,’’ Budget Committee member Howard said during the exchange, summing up a recurring refrain from multiple members who asked for a clear reconciliation before any fund transfers were approved.

Why it matters: Committee members said the town is relying on an audited unassigned-fund balance of about $2.7 million referenced in draft financial statements, but that journal entries and outstanding invoices since the audit's reference date must be verified before voters are asked to approve moving funds. The committee pointed to a previously discussed $326,000 transfer intended to offset the mill rate and a separate $138,000 correction tied to a capital-project account; both items need explicit, auditable support in the ledgers before the public can reliably vote on them.

What happened: After nearly an hour of questioning about how the auditor's figures were calculated and why accounting corrections from 2023 and 2024 remain unresolved, the committee voted to table Article 12 (the article that referenced use of unassigned funds) and asked staff to provide a reconciliation showing: (1) the audited unassigned balance as of Dec. 31, 2024; (2) any journal entries posted after that date that change the unassigned balance; and (3) a list of outstanding purchase orders or accruals that would affect legal or professional services accounts.

Select board member Gail, a citizen auditor, urged the board to consider a special town meeting to correct 2025 accounting moves sooner than March if the corrections cannot wait. The board voted to add a ballot question asking voters to authorize using $326,000 to offset taxes if the funds are available; other accounting corrections were flagged for additional documentation and potential placement on the warrant.

Other votes: The committee approved a slate of routine small donations (examples: $1,500 for St. Matthews Food Pantry and reduced donations to local conservation groups), and approved funding for two deputy positions (deputy tax collector and deputy town clerk) and the town's health insurance article. The committee tabled or asked for more detail on higher-uncertainty items including the professional/legal services allotment and a larger unemployment/workers' compensation figure.

Quotes and context: During the discussion, one budget committee member said, ‘‘If taking this conservative approach that you are taking and waiting, I think is better. You're gaining interest,’’ while another complained, ‘‘How can this be presented? There's a lot of uncertainty. I don't know how anybody could vote on this not knowing what the true numbers are.''

What's next: Staff were asked to provide reconciled ledgers and a clear list of outstanding invoices before Thursday's follow-up meeting; the committee will revisit tabled articles and may place corrective questions on the March warrant once the numerical support is complete. The board also agreed to correct wording errors in warrant language (changing instances of "undesated" to "unassigned") before the warrant is finalized.

Votes at a glance (select items referenced at the meeting): - Motion to accept warrants and to approve minutes: moved and carried during opening procedure. - Article 3 (St. Matthews Food Pantry, $1,500): passed unanimously. - Article 4 (Saco/Saco River Corridor donation, amended to $300): passed unanimously. - Article 9 (lake funding): language revised to specify invasive-plant control and boat monitoring; amendment adopted. - Article 12 (use of unassigned fund to reduce tax commitment): tabled pending reconciled accounting and audit support. - Article 13 (transfer $15,000 to contingency): tabled by budget committee due to unclear unassigned balance. - Articles 16 and 17 (funding for deputy tax collector and deputy town clerk positions): approved (Article 16 vote recorded 4–1; Article 17 carried). - Article 21 (professional/legal services): tabled for clearer accruals and outstanding purchase-order figures. - Article 24 (health insurance): approved.

The committee scheduled additional review at a Thursday meeting to consider wording changes and to receive the reconciliations requested. The meeting adjourned with staff directed to return clearer financial backups to the committee.