from Massachusetts General Law, chapter 41;

Section 61: Annual report

Section 61. The town accountant shall make an annual report, to be published as a town document, giving a statement of all receipts and expenditures of the town for the past financial year, including those of funds managed by trustees or commissioners for the town and showing also the amount of each specific appropriation, the expenditures therefrom, and the purpose for which money has been spent; and said statement shall be arranged in accordance with the classifications prescribed by the director of accounts. Such report shall contain a statement of any change in the amount of the town debt during the year and a list of indebtedness incurred and unpaid at the end of the financial year.

from the Ledger History - expenditure Ledger - allocated summary

Some accounts/funds on this budget versus actual (so-called) show a % variation of more than 100%.

Solid waste disposal expenses:    113.24% var. shown as               -$842.01

Recycling revolving expenses:      218.11% var. shown as              - $983.67

COA revolving MART expenses:   148.68% var.  shown as         -$25,649.27

Elementary School:                      1,308.86% var.  shown as  -$1,287,015.44

Snow & Ice shows a deficit and that is allowed by law.

I can already hear the grumblings from Town Hall but this information is on a report from the Town Accountant and if those numbers are not negative or in deficit then perhaps it should be noted on the document as in an explanation. This was also on the agenda and discussed at the last meeting of the Advisory (finance) Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett