Dover Finance Committee Approves 11 Transfers to Close $338,000 in FY25 Deficits

DOVER — July 9, 2025 — Dover's Finance Committee unanimously approved 11 budget transfers totaling roughly $338,000 to close fiscal year 2025 deficits, with the largest share — $158,000 — covering consultant costs incurred after the town lost its entire treasury and accounting staff. Finance Director Chris Costello told the committee the town at one point had three accounting positions and "was down to zero," forcing it to hire outside firms for day-to-day operations and reconciliation work. A surplus of more than $590,000 in the health insurance premium account — built up because the town budgeted a 7 percent rate increase against an actual increase of less than 4 percent — served as a key funding source across multiple transfers. A $93,500 deficit in IT services stemmed from a municipal fiber project at the town house, aging pandemic-era hardware, and rising licensing costs; the town's IT budget had been $190,000 and was raised to $255,000 for FY26. The committee also voted to draw $35,500 from the reserve fund to cover consultant costs for conservation agent Janet Bowser and $2,696 to cover an overrun in printing the spring town meeting blue book.