Hartford finance director outlines FY2027 budget as she prepares to retire

Leanne RS, the city’s finance director, presented the finance department’s recommended FY2027 budget and thanked staff as she prepares to retire. She told the Operations, Management, Budget and Government Accountability Committee that the department’s mission remains ensuring fiscal integrity through timely reporting and robust internal controls.

The department comprises five divisions—procurement and risk management, tax assessor, tax collector, and accounting and control—and 52 authorized positions with seven current vacancies, Leanne said. She described the accounts‑payable process as a small team auditing about 50,000 invoices a year for the city, Hartford Public Library, Hartford Parking Authority and Hartford Public Schools. “We provide payroll for the 1,600 employees at the city, which includes part‑timer[s], and 4,000 pensioners,” Leanne said.

Leanne reported that auditors filed the FY2025 annual comprehensive financial report and federal and state single audits on time with no material weaknesses or reportable conditions. She said the city met its internal fund‑balance policy—set at 7.5% of appropriations—achieving 7.73% for FY2025. She cautioned that missed filings or recurring audit issues can trigger eligibility for state oversight by MARB.

Council members pressed finance leaders on invoice oversight and the flow of grant‑funded payments from department approvals to accounting review. Leanne explained that accounting reviews purchase orders and invoices for compliance with grant terms and that invoices above $1 million receive director approval before a weekly accounts‑payable warrant is produced and the treasurer cuts checks.

The presentation closed with staffing and process priorities, including filling payroll vacancies, continuing a safety program and implementing improvements recommended by a Harvard‑Bloomberg study of procurement practices. Leanne said the recommended net change from FY2026 to FY2027 is relatively small—about $123,000—made up of a safety‑compliance officer, a deputy purchasing agent and contractual increases.