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Connetquot board tables most budget transfers, approves one security payment amid auditor review
Summary
Trustees pressed administration for explanations of multiple budget transfers and large variances, voted to table most transfers pending auditor follow‑up, and approved a $28,128.94 security‑software transfer to LPC Inc. for continued Genetec support.
The Connetquot Central School District Board of Education on July 20 delayed action on most proposed budget transfers and asked administration and auditors for more detail, while approving one security payment the district says is needed to maintain video‑surveillance support.
Board members raised repeated questions about large and late budget adjustments during the financial‑matters portion of the meeting, pointing to unexplained changes in revenue‑status reports and transfers for items such as Social Security, liability insurance and Chromebook insurance. “Why a month later is there a budget number there when a month ago it was 0?” one trustee asked, referring to a Title I account that showed $0 in the prior report and more than $232,000 in the current one.
Trustees described several of the financial items as requiring external review. “I cannot, with a clear conscience, before that auditor comes in, do all of these budget transfers,” one member said; another asked that the forensic audit team be asked to examine the variances. In response, administration said it would provide more detailed explanations and documentation to the board and noted that some transfers (for example, Chromebook insurance) were moved to a BOCES purchasing code so the district could claim aid.
As an exception, the board voted to approve a transfer of $28,128.94 from a software‑maintenance account to contract services so the district can buy a Genetec support contract through LPC Inc., a vendor that can provide immediate maintenance support that is no longer available through BOCES. The motion passed with the board’s assent after trustees were told the change was time sensitive to avoid a lapse in security‑system support.
For the remainder of the transfers, the board directed administration to prepare itemized justifications and to return the items for action after the auditors review the materials. Trustees also tabled revenue status, trial balance, appropriation‑status and cash‑flow reports while the questions are resolved.
The board scheduled follow‑up review and asked administration to circulate the requested backup prior to the next meeting so trustees can review the records and the auditors can incorporate the findings into their work.
