The role of the Finance Committee extends well beyond simply reviewing
expenditure requests. They are charged with *preparing the annual town
budget, making recommendations on every warrant article involving financial
implications, and approving transfers from the reserve fund.*
It is simply incorrect to claim that the Finance Committee does not weigh
in on proposed expenditures—*providing such opinions is a central part of
their mandate*. In fact, the Committee has done so in recent years; for
example, it voted to recommend the Community Center warrant article last
year.
The idea that Finance Committee appointments would be more “political” if
made by the Select Board rather than the Town Moderator doesn’t hold up. *Both
the Moderator and the Select Board are elected officials.* What’s needed is
greater transparency, stronger accountability, and the consistent selection
of members based on financial expertise rather than political alignment.
Having the Selects appoint FinCom offers the following advantages:
-
Diverse Perspectives: With three appointing voices instead of one,
FinCom would better represent the diverse financial priorities of the town.
-
Stronger Accountability:
-
Selects publicly campaign on their fiscal priorities.
-
One Select Board seat is up for election each year, providing voters
regular input on financial direction.
-
Alignment with Residents’ Expectations: Voters already look to the
Select Board for town-wide decision-making. Appointing FinCom members is a
natural extension of that role.
-
Bridging Policy, Operations, and Finance: The Select Board is
responsible for overall town governance, so appointing FinCom members
ensures:
-
Greater coordination between policy-making and financial review
-
A shared understanding of long-term fiscal priorities and constraints
That said, the position is critically important—perhaps important enough to
warrant direct election. The Planning Board, another technically focused
committee, is directly elected. That structure ensures accountability and
gives residents a clearer voice in shaping the committee’s direction.
*The Hanscom misallocation stemmed from Lincoln’s budget, which ultimately
falls under the Finance Committee’s oversight. *They have full access to
all of the town’s financial records and are responsible for preparing the
budget. *Despite being presented with evidence of the misallocation on
multiple occasions, the Committee failed to act.* A working group convened
last summer by the School Committee estimated the misallocation at
approximately $2 million over just the last five years. The full duration
of the problem is still unknown. Had the Finance Committee addressed the
issue when first alerted and stopped the ongoing payments, the town could
have saved about $1 million to date.
David Cuetos
Weston Rd
Lincoln General Bylaws, Article IV.
Section 3.
The Committee shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose
of making reports and recommendations to the Town, and in particular shall
perform the following duties:
1) It shall prepare and submit the Annual Budget for consideration at the
Annual Town Meeting, and in this connection shall hold a public hearing on
said Budget prior to the day of the Annual Town Meeting. Notice of such
hearing shall be sent at least three days prior thereto by mail or
otherwise to each household within the Town;
2) It shall consider and make recommendations respecting all articles
involving an expenditure of money appearing in the Warrant for any Town
Meeting and shall consult with such officers and committees as it deems
advisable;
3) It shall make an Annual Report which shall be published as a part of the
Annual Report of the Town and which shall include the Annual Budget and
such further recommendations regarding the finances of the Town as the
Committee deems advisable;
4) It shall make such transfers from the Reserve Fund as it deems advisable
to provide for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures, and
5) It shall study the long term capital requirements of the Town and report
on the same in its Annual Report to the Town.
Section 6
In the discharge of its duty, the Committee shall have free access to all
books of record and accounts, bills and vouchers on which money has been or
may be paid from the Treasury. Officers and Committees of the Town shall
upon request furnish said Committee with facts, figures, and other
information pertaining to their several activities.
On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM Anne Warner <[email protected]> wrote:
> I agree wholeheartedly. If the goal is truly “transparency”, that goal
> can be met by the Moderator just as well as the Select Board. We just need
> to change the process. Anne W
> - Sent from iPhone. Typed by thumb. Excuse misspellings!
>
> > On Jun 8, 2025, at 8:21 PM, RAandBOB <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > My understanding of the role of the finance committee is to review all
> money expenditure requests from the town boards, and the town offices, and
> the citizens petitions, and present to the voters the financial
> ramifications of the decisions the voters are about to make. I don’t think
> they usually offer an opinion in favor of or against the proposed
> expenditures. That is really up to the voters to decide once they
> understand the ramifications.
> >
> > If my understanding of the role of the finance committee is correct, I
> would prefer to see it as an appointment by the Moderator. You really don’t
> want a member of the finance committee to be lobbying in favor of lower
> taxes. They are just supposed to explain the ramifications and let the
> voters decide what they want to do. Therefore the appointments should be
> based on financial expertise rather than political considerations.
> >
> > It is true that the finance committee recommends spending guideline.
> They also hold a hearing which citizens may attend and criticize what they
> are proposing.
> >
> > With regard to any mishandling of financial issues with Hanscom schools,
> the finance committee doesn’t handle that sort of detail. That detail is
> handled by the financial staff, which reports to the selectmen already.
> >
> > This is my understanding of the situation anyway. If I have made
> mistakes, I’m sure someone will correct me and I will be happy to be
> enlightened.
> >
> > Ruth Ann
> > (She, her, hers)
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