Finance Committee approves FY26 interdepartmental year-end transfers

The Wareham Finance Committee on July 15 approved interdepartmental year-end transfers for fiscal 2026 following a presentation by town administrative staff.

Steve Sullivan, the town administrative staff member who presented the transfers, told the committee, “Just in case anybody’s watching, this does not change the overall bottom line budget that was passed. This is just an interdepartmental transfer.” Sullivan listed specific adjustments including a $4,200 transfer involving assessor salaries and adjustments related to treasurer salaries, personnel services, MIS data-processing overtime, inspectional services, maintenance and animal-shelter/DNR fees. He also noted the town’s FICA obligation (1.45%) applied to certain retroactive collective pay items.

The presentation outlined that some positions were not filled during the fiscal year and that overtime covered essential work in at least one department. Committee members asked whether the committee retained any prior 5% limit on changes to budgets; Sullivan said federal/state municipal relief measures had removed that constraint, so the transfers were permissible under current rules.

After some members read and reconciled numbers aloud to confirm totals, the chair moved to approve the transfers “as presented” and the motion was seconded. The committee voted by voice; the chair called for ayes and confirmed the motion carried.

There was no roll-call tally recorded in the meeting transcript. The committee proceeded to complete required signatures and administrative paperwork after the vote. The meeting adjourned later that evening.