Cromwell Board of Finance approves $542,762.20 suspense list, OKs FY26 transfers

The Cromwell Board of Finance voted Tuesday to accept the tax collector's suspense list, a ledger of overdue tax amounts totaling $542,762.20, and approved an interdepartmental transfer tied to FY26 tax refunds.

Chair called for the motion to review the tax collector's suspense list and the board moved, seconded and voted to adopt the collector's recommendation. The finance director, Sharon, said the list grew this year after staff implemented an auditor's recommendation to move more unresolved items into suspense; she explained that moving an amount to suspense does not prevent future collection or transfer to collections but does change how the town presents the amounts in its accounting reports.

Board members asked why so much of the balance was concentrated in corporate names such as Phillips Telehealth and Lenovo Financial Services and asked staff to follow up with the tax collector for details on those accounts. Chair left the motion open while members sought any removals and then called the vote; the motion carried by voice.

The board also approved a $4,100 transfer from employee benefits to the tax collector's budget to cover refunds that have exceeded that line for the third consecutive year. Sharon said the transfer reflects recurring refund activity and staff are gathering comparative practices from other jurisdictions.

Separately, the board approved five sets of meeting minutes from March to May 2026. Several members recorded named abstentions on particular minutes as noted in the record.

The actions were procedural and described by the finance director as logistical steps ahead of the July 1 fiscal-year close; Sharon told members that audited fund-balance figures will be available after the state audit and the July reporting cycle.