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Council demands line‑item Excel spending reports ahead of November audit
Summary
Council members pressed town staff for a detailed, line‑by‑line Excel report of expenditures they have requested for about a year; staff cited software changes and personnel issues and pledged to provide the reports before the upcoming audit.
Several council members expressed frustration that they have not received an Excel file showing expenditures by line item and not as lump sums, information they said is essential for preparing for the town audit scheduled for November.
"I have over several times throughout the year request for council an Excel spreadsheet of expenditures by a line item not by a lump sum," one council member said, adding that the delay—about a year—was "unreasonable and inexcusable." The council pressed staff for the reports to be available by the end of the month.
Staff acknowledged implementation challenges with a new financial program and year‑end changes, and said some data had to be reworked because the town shifted its fiscal year end; the administrator said Mr. Blake (staff) had health and availability issues that contributed to the delay but promised the town would provide minimum monthly reports and the requested spreadsheet before the audit.
Council discussed interim options such as producing a manual line‑item export until the new system is fully reconciled. Members emphasized financial transparency to meet oversight responsibilities for taxpayer funds.
Next steps: staff to produce the requested Excel line‑item report before the audit, provide monthly reporting capability going forward, and notify council if outside assistance is needed to reconcile records in time.
