May 10, 2023, Templeton annual town meeting, article 16 - CPC funding reclaiming and fence tennis courts at Gilman Waite field, appropriation voted by town meeting, $139,500.00. Bid for the work was opened August 30, 2023, $178,500.00, so the Advisory Committee has agenda item for meeting this Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. - reserve fund request from parks & rec. July 2023 (FY24) monthly report from accountant shows reserve fund balance at $47,500.00. We (the town) are still in the first quarter and already going after monies from reserve fund, and it would have to be $39,000.00 to make up the short fall to pay for the project. If the transfer were to be approved and contract awarded, would the work be complete before winter, would the company be able to do the project this late in the year (I would assume they have other work already) so if the project is put off until next year, would that bid figure hold? In my humble opinion, it would be irresponsible to use the reserve fund for tis project, as it would be overriding town meeting vote, which if one looks at the ATFC handbook, it states the reserve fund is not for that (overriding town meeting vote) This needs to go back to town meeting and ask them to amend their vote and put a new dollar figure in front of them. If this is the town administrator approach to town budgeting, we need a new TA.

from the handbook that is put together by the ATFC (association town finance committees) which is what the Advisory Committee is in Templeton: to provide for urgent or unforeseen expenditures

that could not have been anticipated before town

meeting; and/or;

• to allow immediate expenditures of funds in the event of an emergency (threat to public safety or health)

when the delay of having to call a special town

meeting could be potentially harmful.

In either case, the finance committee must approve

all proposed transfers from a reserve fund. It is also

understood that a reserve fund should not be to reverse a vote of town meeting or as a “backdoor” means of increasing the budget. Finance committees should adopt their own reserve fund guidelines to supplement the state statute, and should help other town officials gain a better understanding of appropriate uses of a

reserve fund.

$40,000.00 is a substantial amount of tax dollars, this belongs in front of town meeting. The difference between appropriation and the bid received is $39,000.00 and if 39K is taken from town reserve fund at this time, it would leave $8,500.00 for use in any emergency for the rest of the FY, until June 30, 2024.