Auburn Finance Committee Defers DPW Budget Vote Over $90,000 Payroll Discrepancy

AUBURN -- March 11, 2026, Auburn Finance Committee flags $90,000 payroll discrepancy, defers DPW budget vote to March 18. The committee, chaired by Kevin W. Kennedy, approved two mid-year transfers, $133,000 from the salary reserve to cover a fire department union contract settlement and $6,347 from the DPW sewer division for a heating oil overage, but held off on any DPW operating budget recommendation after Vice Chair Michael Marshall identified mismatched figures across the highway and fleet maintenance wage lines. Discussion of the town's 20-year road paving plan dominated the meeting: the town paved roughly two miles last year against a 90-mile network and a target of 4.5 miles annually, and Town Manager Dory confirmed the town cannot repeat this year's draw of roughly $2.3 million from free cash next year. A citizens' petition would ask the May town meeting to add $500,000 in free cash to roadway accounts. The snow and ice budget showed a deficit of approximately $362,000 for the current winter season.