Boxborough Approves Two Year-End Transfers Totaling $21,585 to Cover Budget Gaps

BOXBOROUGH -- July 17, 2023, Boxborough closes fiscal year 2023 with two emergency budget transfers totaling $21,585. The Select Board and Finance Committee approved the transfers in a joint Zoom session Monday, moving $1,810 from the Public Works salary account to cover unpaid legal bills and $19,775 from the same account to cover a debt interest payment that had not been budgeted when the town took on new debt in fiscal year 2022. Finance Director Kelly told both panels the debt shortfall was discovered only after an invoice arrived from the town's debt servicer in the final week of June, and the state Department of Revenue required a new vote rather than an amendment to an earlier transfer. Finance Committee member Becky called the pattern "unacceptable," noting it was the second consecutive year the town had needed extraordinary year-end transfers, and the Finance Director said she would shift departmental warrant processing to a weekly cycle in fiscal year 2024 to prevent similar last-minute surprises.