Finance Committee approves grant applications, audit contract, tax refunds and water budget adjustment; sets F | The Common News

Summary

Finance Committee approves grant applications, audit contract, tax refunds and water budget adjustment; sets FY26/27 budget hearing and town meeting dates

LedyardMar 18, 20263 min read

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At the March 18, 2026 Ledyard Finance Committee meeting (hybrid), members voted unanimously on several finance actions: authorize submission of a COPS Congressionally Directed Spending grant for police body and in-car cameras; approve four tax refunds totaling $12,562.61 (double payments); grant a bid waiver and appoint PKF O’Conner Davies for FY2026 auditing services ($75,000); approve a $1,860,262 Water Operations budget adjustment (reducing the audit line by $2,738); and set the FY2026/2027 public hearing for April 21, 2026 and the Annual Town Meeting on May 18, 2026 with a referendum on May 19, 2026. Several items were continued, including uses of National Opioid Settlement funds and scheduling joint finance meetings with the Board of Education.

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Finance Committee

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Budget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationUtilities

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Key decisions

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Authorized the Mayor to submit a COPS Law Enforcement Technology & Equipment grant (2027 Congressionally Directed Spending) to purchase body-worn and in-car camera equipment; motion recommended for approval (vote 3-0).
Approved four tax refunds due to double payments, totaling $12,562.61 (Beth Dench $3,919.94; Home Loan Serv for Lily Bensko $2,724.59; Home Loan Serv for Nicholas Onega $2,696.00; Laura Waite $3,222.08) (vote 3-0).
Granted a bid waiver and appointed PKF O’Conner Davies to perform auditing services for General Government, WPCA, and Board of Education for year ending June 30, 2026 for a fee of $75,000 (vote 3-0).
Authorized submission of a $1,000 Ledyard Rotary grant application for summer camp scholarships (vote 3-0).
Adopted the FY2026/2027 Water Operations budget at $1,860,262 after reducing the audit/accounting services line by $2,738 (vote 3-0); change to be presented to WPCA on March 24, 2026.
Set a public hearing on the proposed FY2026/2027 budget for April 21, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. (hybrid) in Council Chambers (vote 3-0).
Set the Annual Town Meeting on the proposed FY2026/2027 budget for May 18, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. (hybrid) and to adjourn to a referendum on May 19, 2026 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (vote 3-0).

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Meeting information

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Finance Committee

Mar 18, 2026, 12:00 AMTown Hall Annex Building - Hybrid Formatscheduled

Regular Meeting

Agenda

In -Person Location goes here
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CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Town Attorney Billing- 2026-03-18
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION to approve the Finance Committee Minutes as follows: · Regular Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026 · Budget Work Session Minutes March 5, 2026 · Budget Work Session Minutes March 9, 2026 · Budget Work Session Minutes March 12, 2026 · Regular Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 · Budget Work Session Minutes March 19, 2026 (defer to May 6, 2026 meeting)
OLD BUSINESS
Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Discussion scheduling Regular Quarterly Joint Finance Committee Meetings between the Town Council and Board of Education.
Continued discussion regarding upcoming potential Grant Opportunities.
Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee.
NEW BUSINESS
MOTION to authorize the Mayor to submit a COPS Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment Grant through the 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending initiative, to purchase Body Cameras and In-Car Camera Equipment.
MOTION to approve four tax refunds in the combined total amount of $12,562.61 each exceeding $2,400.00 in accordance with tax collector departmental procedures. · Beth Dench $3,919.94 · Home Loan Serv for Lily Bensko $2,724.59 · Home Loan Serv for Nicholas Onega $2,696.00 · Laura Waite $3,222.08
MOTION to grant a Bid Waiver to PKF O’Conner Davies of Wethersfield, CT due to receiving fewer than three qualified bids in response to RFP #2026-03 (Auditing Services) in accordance with Ordinance #200-001 (rev.2) “An Ordinance Regarding Purchasing for the Town of Ledyard” In addition, appoint PKF O’Conner Davies to conduct auditing services for the General Government, WPCA, and Board of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, in accordance with Chapter III, Section 11 of the Town Charter for a fee of $75,000.
MOTION to authorize the Mayor to submit 2026 Ledyard Rotary Grant Application for Summer Camp Scholarships in the amount of $1000.00
MOTION to adopt a proposed Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Water Operations Budget in the amount $1,860,262.
FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 @ 7:00 P.M.
FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET - ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 18, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.
Discussion and possible action regarding the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Budget.
**ADD ON**
Review and discuss the following Reports: · Committee to Review the Budget Process Report dated October 31, 2023 · Committee To Transform The Budget Process Report dated October 3, 2016
Any New Business proper to come before the Committee
ADJOURNMENT
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the Town.
Agenda Item

Documents from this meeting

Agendahttps://ledyardct.legistar1.com/ledyardct/meetings/2026/3/2649_A_Finance_Committee_26-03-18_~_AMENDED_AGENDA_~.pdf
Minuteshttps://ledyardct.legistar1.com/ledyardct/meetings/2026/3/2649_M_Finance_Committee_26-03-18_Meeting_Minutes.pdf

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