Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our budget review was to determine whether the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the Town’s tentative budget for the 2015 fiscal year are reasonable.

Background

The Town was categorized as being “susceptible to fiscal stress” in a report issued in September 2014 as part of the Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System. The 2015 tentative budget for the Town’s funds totals $1,311,410 and is funded by estimated revenues of $370,880, appropriated fund balance of $116,905 and real property tax revenues of $823,625.

Key Findings

• We project that the general town-wide fund will end the current fiscal year with a deficit fund balance of up to $21,000; Town officials did not consider this when developing the 2015 budget.
• The allocation of payroll expenditures in the highways funds does not appear to be equitable.
• The Town’s tentative budget complies with the tax levy limit in 2015.

Key Recommendations

• Consider the impact the projected general town-wide fund deficit will have on the 2015 budget.
• Consider changing the allocation of payroll costs between the highway funds.