LaGrange May Have Taxed Residents More Than Needed: NY Comptroller

LAGRANGE, NY — An audit of local government finances in the town of LaGrange released Wednesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found that more taxes might have been levied than were needed.

The objective of the audit was to determine whether LaGrange's Town Board developed a multiyear financial plan and effectively managed the town’s general fund balance.

The short answer was "no."

The key findings released in the audit said:

The Board did not develop a multiyear financial plan or manage general fund balance in accordance with Town policy. As of December 31, 2022, the general unassigned fund balance was $3.3 million, or 51 percent of the ensuing year’s budgeted appropriations, which exceeded the Town’s fund balance policy limit by more than $725,000.

As a result, it is difficult for the Board to assess alternative approaches to financial needs without a multiyear financial plan and more taxes may have been levied than necessary.

The key recommendation in the audit was that the board members need to comply with the town’s own fund balance policy; develop a plan to reduce unassigned fund balance; and also develop, adopt and periodically update a comprehensive written multiyear financial plan.

Patch reached out to Town Supervisor Alan Bell for comment.