Advisory Finance Committee approves $130,000 in interdepartmental transfers to close FY2026 gaps

The Advisory Finance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve five interdepartmental transfers totaling $130,000 to cover year‑end expenses across town departments.

John Steinberg, the town’s finance director, told the committee that the transfers are routine year‑end adjustments that move unspent salary funds into expense accounts to pay bills before the close of the fiscal year. "You have before you a summary of transfers to five different departments," Steinberg said, explaining that vacancy savings and surplus lines are the usual sources for these moves.

Chief Todd Menard requested the largest single transfer of the meeting: $15,000 from the Library salary line to police expenses. "I am requesting the transfer of the $15,000 to police department expenses," Menard said, citing academy tuition, medical and psychological exams, equipment and promotional testing as drivers of the shortfall. He said academy and onboarding costs can run about $10,000 per new hire and that a recent collective bargaining settlement left little salary reserve in the police budget.

Committee members questioned whether vacancies or higher per‑hire costs were the main cause and whether the town should create a dedicated training line. Menard and Steinberg said the expense is hard to forecast and noted prior years when transfers within the police budget covered similar needs. The committee approved the $15,000 transfer by voice vote (recorded 7‑0‑0).

The committee also approved a $10,000 intra‑department transfer in finance to pay for phase‑one work on a commercial appraisal tied to an Appellate Tax Board appeal. Steinberg and other staff described the appraisal as an initial income‑approach review intended to avoid full litigation; appraisals for complex properties can run substantially higher if litigation proceeds. That motion passed 7‑0‑0.

Another $10,000 move from finance salary to legal expenses was approved to cover higher‑than‑expected legal bills this year. Committee members noted legal services come out of established budgets but that unexpected matters had increased costs in the current year; the motion passed 7‑0‑0.

A $6,000 transfer from Board of Health expenses to Veterans Services was approved to reimburse town expenses for emergency sheltering under the state Chapter 115 veterans assistance program. Kim Foster explained the town had accommodated three veterans in extended stays this year — total costs were about $16,000 — and that emergency shelter benefits are typically reimbursable at 100%, while other Chapter 115 benefits are reimbursed at roughly 75%. The committee approved the transfer 7‑0‑0.

Finally, the committee approved an $89,000 transfer from salary and wages across four departments (Board of Health $19,000; Community Development $20,000; Library $25,000; Town Manager $25,000) into the town insurance/unemployment expense line. Staff described an unusual run of high monthly unemployment insurance bills this fiscal year under the town’s reimbursable model, where the municipality is invoiced for benefits paid to former employees; members asked whether claims can be contested and were told the town does contest some claims and works through a third‑party administrator. That transfer was approved 7‑0‑0.

What the committee approved Wednesday moves existing funds into expense accounts for obligations already incurred or very likely before fiscal year‑end. Several members urged continued attention to budgeting for training and litigation contingencies in future budgets. The transfers will be reflected in the town’s year‑end reports and in actions pending at the upcoming Select Board meeting.

The committee recorded each vote by voice/hand; in each of the transfer votes reported in the meeting the tally given was 7‑0‑0.