Board of Finance seeks regular capital reports and clearer priorities for East Haddam projects
June 26, 2026 | East Haddam, Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
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A member of the Board of Finance urged the group to adopt more frequent, concise reporting on capital projects so the board can track overruns, underruns and reallocation decisions throughout the year.
The board member said the town currently provides monthly operating budget updates but does not routinely review capital balances and suggested quarterly capital reports (end of March, June and September) that would show what is budgeted, what has been spent and how any underspends would be reallocated. “If things are falling behind, why? If things are over budget, why? If you’re under budget…how is it going to be allocated?” the member said during the meeting.
Why it matters: board members said capital is a significant portion of town spending and that more regular reviews would help prioritize finite funds and reduce ad-hoc repurposing. Staff noted the town has more than 380 capital projects and that auditors require a June close-out, which the board could use as a regular milestone.
Board members reviewed how capital requests are scored and prioritized. The scoring rubric discussed includes questions about whether a project generates revenue, replaces equipment, affects the grand list, increases future costs, or leverages grants. Members gave examples: public-safety equipment such as a police car rose to the top in the current scoring system, while a playground at a town beach prompted questions about whether the rubric captured community priorities.
The board emphasized process controls: approved projects must be defined before July 1 and funds cannot be repurposed without returning to the Board of Finance; repurposings above $20,000 require town-meeting approval. Members said quarterly reporting would make midyear repurposing requests more transparent.
Next steps: staff (Val and Moren) will bring a condensed capital-balances report for the June/August cycle tailored for board review; a member volunteered to draft a letter specifying the performance metrics the board wants from the town and the Board of Education before the next budget cycle.
The board member said the town currently provides monthly operating budget updates but does not routinely review capital balances and suggested quarterly capital reports (end of March, June and September) that would show what is budgeted, what has been spent and how any underspends would be reallocated. “If things are falling behind, why? If things are over budget, why? If you’re under budget…how is it going to be allocated?” the member said during the meeting.
Why it matters: board members said capital is a significant portion of town spending and that more regular reviews would help prioritize finite funds and reduce ad-hoc repurposing. Staff noted the town has more than 380 capital projects and that auditors require a June close-out, which the board could use as a regular milestone.
Board members reviewed how capital requests are scored and prioritized. The scoring rubric discussed includes questions about whether a project generates revenue, replaces equipment, affects the grand list, increases future costs, or leverages grants. Members gave examples: public-safety equipment such as a police car rose to the top in the current scoring system, while a playground at a town beach prompted questions about whether the rubric captured community priorities.
The board emphasized process controls: approved projects must be defined before July 1 and funds cannot be repurposed without returning to the Board of Finance; repurposings above $20,000 require town-meeting approval. Members said quarterly reporting would make midyear repurposing requests more transparent.
Next steps: staff (Val and Moren) will bring a condensed capital-balances report for the June/August cycle tailored for board review; a member volunteered to draft a letter specifying the performance metrics the board wants from the town and the Board of Education before the next budget cycle.
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