Auburn Finance Committee Approves Year-End Transfers, Reserve Fund Falls to $42,590

AUBURN -- June 17, 2026, Auburn Finance Committee approves fourteen-plus year-end budget transfers, leaving town reserves near empty. The committee, meeting June 17, worked through transfers totaling tens of thousands of dollars across fire, police, DPW, library, and town manager accounts, reducing the combined reserve fund and salary reserve balance to $42,590.63 with roughly two weeks left in fiscal year 2026, according to CFO and Town Accountant Karen Harnoise. A $30,000 reserve fund transfer to cover a legal services shortfall sparked the meeting's most pointed exchange: committee member Trevor Sandsusi, appearing remotely, argued the committee had been kept in the dark about a rate increase, from roughly $150 to $325 per hour, after the town switched law firms following an April RFP, calling the committee "more of a rubber stamp than actually doing our job." A DPW overtime transfer for July 4 fireworks was withdrawn after members agreed the cost should flow through the Recreation Revolving Account, consistent with how police and fire fireworks overtime was handled. Harnoise said at least one additional omnibus transfer is expected at the July 8 meeting, likely covering health insurance expenses.