A much-speculated about 2012-13 audit of the town and school finances is expected to be the subject of public debate this week, beginning with an outline of the process at the Board of Education meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the Brookfield High School library.
A formal presentation of the audit is scheduled for the Board of Finance on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Brookfield High School media center.
Preliminary findings suggest that over the course of the last two years the Board of Education had overspent its budget by as much as $1 million,with deferrals of unexpected end-of-the-year expenses for payment in the following fiscal year. Audit reports often do not generate much debate, however, this one has prompted a lot of talk within the current town administration as such financial practices violate state statutes and the town charter as it relates to proper financial protocols, current town leaders have said. The question some in the public are asking is how might this affect the budget season if the school must repay a large sum of money to the town’s operating funds.
Board of Education Chairman Scott McCarthy said the board and district leaders are now on a fact-finding mission to determine exactly what has occurred, and how best to resolve these issues in the future. At this time, McCarthy said he does not have a copy of the draft report but will be at the Board of Finance meeting on Wednesday. He, too, has scheduled a special Board of Education meeting with the auditors for Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
McCarthy and other school leaders said the key is to determine how these accounting issues occurred, and how they can be rectified and avoided into the future.
The school board agenda does include a discussion of the audit followed with an executive session to discuss the performance of the district’s Director of Finance, Technology and Operations Art Colley. McCarthy said he expects these matters to be informational and
“Any discussion of the audit or personnel performance until we get all the details is extremely irresponsible,” said school board member Harry Shaker.
Colley declined any comment. Bivona could not be immediately reached for comment.
First Selectman Bill Tinsley was delivered a preliminary draft on Tuesday morning. The report will, though, not become public until it is distributed to the Board of Finance on Wednesday.