Auburn Finance Committee Approves $230,000 in Year-End Transfers, Defers Reorganization

AUBURN — July 9, 2025 — Auburn Finance Committee clears $229,159 in year-end interdepartmental transfers as FY25 closes. The three-member quorum — Patrick Jones, George Graham, and Stephen Consilvio — approved an omnibus package dominated by snow and ice accounts ($165,000-plus) and fire department salary and overtime shortfalls, with CFO Karen Haro explaining the single-package format was necessary because reserve accounts were nearly depleted. Member Jones raised concern about the growing volume and scale of end-of-year transfers, saying the committee "would be remiss in our roles" if it failed to scrutinize reallocations on behalf of taxpayers, while Consilvio argued the transfers reflect departments running lean rather than wasteful spending. The committee also passed its first FY26 transfer, a $6,000 sewer enterprise fund move to cover an Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District assessment that came in $4,000 over its $1,650,000 estimate. With only three of seven members present, the committee's annual reorganization vote was postponed to the first fall meeting.