BRATTLEBORO — “It's not that we have a lot more money. We don't. We're using it a lot more wisely,” Financial Director John Leisenring told the Selectboard in discussing the comprehensive town audit for fiscal year 2009.
According to Selectboard member Dick DeGray, the town used to overspend its budget routinely without reflecting a deficit when it took in more than the bottom line. After the town experienced a revenue shortfall in 2005, a number of difficult budget years followed, requiring the town's staff and department heads to increase their budget oversight.
“Our expenditures were $417,000 less than anticipated… I'd like to commend the staff and department heads for their excellent job for spending our money in a careful and fruitful manner and because of that we have a surplus this year,” DeGray said.
The independent audit was prepared by Mudgett Jennett & Krogh-Wisner, P.C., an accounting firm in Montpelier.