Committee delays decision on transfer to cover auditor department deficit

The Gardner City Finance Committee on July 1 reviewed an order (item 11867) proposing a transfer of salary appropriations from the city clerk department to the auditor department to cover an FY26 shortfall. Mayor said he identified a surplus in the clerk department caused by a vacant position and proposed that as an initial source to meet the auditor’s deficit.

"This came from the letters that you see attached from the city auditor requesting a transfer of funds to cover a deficit in her department for FY26," the Mayor said, explaining that he saw the clerk surplus as a logical initial source and that the clerk and auditor offices are both legislative departments.

Committee members questioned whether the transfer should come from the clerk department and urged staff to seek other funding sources. Council President Harris noted that because the auditing firm charges were used across the city when Gardner had no auditor, the committee should consider spreading the cost.

The committee discussed timing constraints under the municipal modernization act, which the Mayor said changed the deadlines for closing the books. "New appropriations cannot be made but transfers between departments can still be made up until that point," the Mayor said, adding the committee had some flexibility before books are closed.

Rather than approve the transfer at the meeting, the committee asked staff to review other funding sources and report back. No final vote on the transfer was recorded; the item was left on the committee’s calendar for further consideration.