Auburn Finance Committee Defers DPW Budget Vote Over $90,000 Payroll Discrepancy

AUBURN — March 11, 2026 — Auburn Finance Committee flags $90,000 payroll discrepancy, defers DPW budget vote to March 18. The committee, chaired by Kevin W. Kennedy, approved two mid-year transfers — $133,000 from the salary reserve to cover a fire department union contract settlement and $6,347 from the DPW sewer division for a heating oil overage — but held off on any DPW operating budget recommendation after Vice Chair Michael Marshall identified mismatched figures across the highway and fleet maintenance wage lines. Discussion of the town's 20-year road paving plan dominated the meeting: the town paved roughly two miles last year against a 90-mile network and a target of 4.5 miles annually, and Town Manager Dory confirmed the town cannot repeat this year's draw of roughly $2.3 million from free cash next year. A citizens' petition would ask the May town meeting to add $500,000 in free cash to roadway accounts. The snow and ice budget showed a deficit of approximately $362,000 for the current winter season.