The Marion Finance Committee may meet on July 13 to vet one more item on a list of Reserve Fund transfers approved at its June 22 public meeting.
Before launching into four transfers from the Reserve Fund, the committee voted to approve one appropriation transfer requiring both FinCom and Select Board approval.
Sometime during FY22, former Recreation Department Director Jody Dickerson was transferred to the Department of Public Works, a necessary move that worked out famously by all account and was hailed as a solution before current directors were in place for the two departments.
Town Administrator Jay McGrail explained that the FY23 budget was already approved by vote prior to Dickerson’s transfer so what the Finance Committee was asked to do on June 22 is approve a $40,000 transfer from the Reserve Fund into the Highway Department’s budget.
The transferred amount does not account for Dickerson’s entire salary, only the amount it took to make the DPW budget whole. The change is reflected on the FY23 DPW budget.
Finance Director Judy Mooney explained that the budget transfer is only allowed at the end of the fiscal year, thus putting it before the committee at its June 22 public meeting.
The committee also voted to approve a total of $17,422 in four transfers from the Reserve Fund that Mooney referred to as “cleanup” items.
The first item was $1,722 for a mailing in accordance with the town bylaw. McGrail said the cost came in $1,700 above the original cost estimate.
Also transferred was $8,000 to finish up an actuary study. According to McGrail, Marion reached the federal cap after receiving over $1,000,000 in CARES Act funding and was required to hold an audit. “Judy didn’t get dinged for anything, she did it perfectly,” said McGrail.
State funding for veterans went into the town’s general fund, said Mooney. The $4,000 requested was offset with veterans’ funds from the state.
“We just have to have the expense, you can’t mix the expense with the revenue,” she explained. “Chris (Gerrior), our veterans’ agent, put a nice description in there, but I did want to just let you know that even though they estimated this, we really did receive well over the $4,000 that we gave out in General Fund (money.)”
The Elizabeth Taber Library asked for an increase in its budget to purchase some furniture, but the town suggested a $3,700 Reserve Fund transfer.
The four transfers left a remaining balance of $47,578 in the Reserve Fund that formerly held $65,000.
McGrail told the committee that the town was “on the fence” as to whether to bring a fifth transfer request related to the Marine Department, the personnel of which was moved out of their contracts into the town’s Personnel Policy last year.
The resultant overtime budgeted for FY23 had McGrail concerned with three weeks left in FY22. With a July 15 deadline to have the town’s financial house in order, McGrail suggested a potential special meeting of the committee (via Zoom) in July to vote on a potential Reserve Fund transfer.
In other business, Committee Chairman Shay Assad said he planned to send a note to FinCom members with thoughts on things he thinks the members should be considering beyond review of the annual budget.
Assad’s examples included thoughts on an accountability review for Chapter 90 funds for the roads, looking at the school budget in a different way, and an audit committee that reviews audited financials in the management letter. Assad said these are among best practices in some other towns. A September meeting would be held to discuss a potential list of actions and the creation of subcommittees.
Assad publicly thanked Mooney and McGrail for “exemplary” work on the budget and the teamwork established with the Select Board. “I think we’ve established a really good working relationship,” he said.
Former Chairman Peter Winters added, “I think we definitely can do more and maybe take some of the burden off Jay and Judy, but they do a great job and it was a good budget season for sure.”
Toby Burr, the newest Select Board member, appreciated Assad’s welcome to FinCom’s think tank.
The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee was not finalized, but the committee discussed a potential meeting on Wednesday, July 13.
Marion Finance Committee
By Mick Colageo