Fiscal Responsibility

Planned Spending on Infrastructure – It's not just a wish list! A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a legally required, detailed 5-year plan for prioritizing and funding infrastructure projects. It guides grant eligibility and ensures strategic investment in town assets. Currently, the CIP is referred to as a “wish list,” leading to neglected maintenance, costly repairs, and deferred infrastructure investment. Aging buildings and systems continue to deteriorate, draining department budgets and taxpayer resources. Sarris & McKane believe the CIP must become a working plan that drives funding decisions, secures grants, and responsibly maintains Oxford’s infrastructure and finances.

For most federal and state grants, the town must pay upfront for the entirety of the project before seeking reimbursement. There is also a portion or percentage that is the town's responsibility. So, before grant applications are submitted, the Board of Finance and the Town must agree to be obligated to these costs. But is this happening? Past financial audits have shown grants have been applied for - and even portions paid for - without required funding approval. In fact, the $8M Chestnut Tree Hill Road Extension project and the $4.3M sidewalk project - are grants that were applied for without the required Board of Finance and Town approval - there is no approved funding source. The $4.3M sidewalk project is advancing to the design stage without notifying impacted residents and may involve eminent domain issues. It is estimated that the overall cost to the town will be around $1M. Sarris & McKane will ensure that no grant application proceeds without prior Board of Finance and town involvement. They will prioritize grants that address essential needs and reduce your tax burdens, guided by a functioning Capital Improvement Plan.

Sometimes the Board of Selectmen have funding sources outside of Oxford’s budget. These have become discretionary funds used for projects, purchases, and services—without oversight by the elected Board of Finance. CPV Towantic Funds: $50K annual contribution. In August, $55K was approved for initial engineering costs on a $4.3M federal sidewalk grant—which was obtained without BoF or town approval—obligating the town to unplanned costs. This project continues to move forward without funding approval or required authority. ARPA Funds: $3.9M in federal COVID relief. The BoS, not the BoF, controlled these funds. While some was used for delayed capital projects, half, $1.8M, was allocated to move the police station into Center School and begin renovations, while knowing full renovations were estimated to cost $6-8M, with no plan to cover the gap. The project is now stalled, as replacing the 30+ year old roof wasn’t part of bid. A major issue: The winning bidder, with inside knowledge of ARPA fund balance, came in just $1,200 under the $1.8M available. Without that bid and the First Selectman's vote, the money would have funded the $1.8M fire engine, as the BoF wanted, and Selectman McKane agreed. Instead, the fire engine was to be bonded—adding long-term debt—while ARPA funds added millions in unplanned/unapproved renovation costs to the Town, or possibly, a loss of $1.8M in federal funding. (With our credit withdrawn, we could not bond the truck. How are we paying for this truck within the budget?) Sarris & McKane will ensure transparency and proper oversight of these outside funds to protect taxpayers.

Town taxes are what fund the town’s services. Residents deserve to know where their money is going and that they are not being overtaxed. Oxford’s Board of Finance does not have access to current municipal department expenditures when preparing the town’s budget. Amy Sarris has attended numerous Board of Finance budget deliberation meetings over the past two years. The Board of Finance expressed frustration that they were, “in the dark” in preparing the municipal budget without having accurate department expenditures from the Finance Director. Sarris & McKane will require that the municipal budget be drafted based on actual department expenditures and projected needs. We will require the Finance Department use software that accurately tracks this information. Your taxes shouldn’t be increased without knowing that more money is in fact needed to fund town services.

Town departments need timely, direct communication from Town Hall. Currently, departments must wait for meeting minutes to learn outcomes, causing delays and confusion. Sarris has witnessed key decisions stalled and denied because department heads weren’t informed or present. Sarris & McKane will ensure departments are promptly notified of meeting results and next steps—because clear communication is essential for effective government.

Town employees should be hired based on skills, training, and qualifications, instead of writing job descriptions to fit a chosen individual who has personal connections. Background searches need to be conducted, as well as reviewing references. Not doing these things puts our town at risk.

In early 2023, the Board of Finance approved purchasing financing software for $30K that was never utilized. The Board of Finance creates the municipal budget from external Excel spreadsheets. These spreadsheets are neither current nor do they have accurate year to date department expenditures. Town Departments cannot access their current budget balances either. How can we trust our tax rate is accurate without factual prior year and current year expenditures?

We need to ensure that our Finance Department has the accounting software it needs to efficiently manage all the union and non-union employee contracts and terms.