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Sanbornton Selectboard accepts FY25 audit, authorizes interim finance contract and acts on several abatements
Summary
The Sanbornton Selectboard on July 1 accepted the FY25 audit, returning $180,000 to the general fund; authorized a limited contract with accounting firm BerryDunn up to $25,000 to support the finance office; and voted on multiple property tax abatements and encumbrances.
The Sanbornton Selectboard on July 1 accepted the town's FY25 audit, which returned $180,000 to the general fund, and authorized the Town Administrator to sign the FY26 audit engagement letter.
Town Administrator Trish Stafford said the accounting firm completed the audit and suggested improvements to internal processes; she told the board the $180,000 had been returned to the general fund. The board voted unanimously to accept the audit and to authorize signing the engagement letter for the coming year.
The board also addressed a staffing gap in the finance office. Town Administrator Trish Stafford described a proposal from accounting firm BerryDunn for interim support following the departure of the Finance Officer; BerryDunn proposed a phased engagement with a $55,000 not-to-exceed price. Selectman Mark Brown said he was concerned about contracting costs on top of replacing the vacant Finance Coordinator position. Fire Chief Paul Dexter questioned whether the town should instead hire a Finance Director and cautioned that contracting out services can produce poorer service for end users. On a motion by Selectman Brandon Deacon, seconded by Selectman Mark Brown, the board authorized the Town Administrator to enter into a contract with BerryDunn for no more than $25,000 to be paid from account 4150.590, Professional Services; the motion passed unanimously.
The Selectboard reviewed several property tax abatement recommendations from the town's assessor, Avitar. The board denied an abatement request for Tax Map 17/Lot 69; approved the assessor's corrected valuation of $1,040,451 for Tax Map 10/Lot 92-3; and approved the corrected valuation of $706,500 for Tax Map 5/Lot 002-002. The board tabled an abatement application for Tax Map 24/Lot 42 pending additional analysis from the assessor.
Financial housekeeping items approved at the meeting included an encumbrance of $140,000 from the FY26 Highway budget (line 4312.100, Highway Grant Funds) to cover previously completed projects awaiting invoices and the signing of a Land Use Change Tax yield and a check to the Sanbornton Public Library for $116,701.50. The board also approved minutes for June 17 and June 23, 2026. All recorded votes on motions in these matters were unanimous.
What happens next: The Town Administrator is authorized to execute the limited BerryDunn contract, the engagement letter for FY26 audit work will be signed, and the assessor will provide additional analysis on the tabled abatement (Tax Map 24/Lot 42). The Selectboard will reconvene on July 15 to continue routine business.
