All things considered coming off a 12-month period when the town took an unexpected monetary hit due the unforeseen significant legal settlement at the start of the year, the Warren's coffers and financial health are in relatively good stead as it began the final quarter of the fiscal calendar.

The monthly report of Town Finance Director David Burlingame provided to the council at its April 8 meeting was pretty straight-forward, follow-the-numbers type of update as FY2024-25 winds down.

Warren had revenues of $1,038,071.53 for March with expenditures of $2,776,792.94 or a difference of $1,738,721.41.

As for the year to date, the town' revenues were $27,382,181.72 with expenditures of $26,338,806.70 with a positive balance of $1,043,375.02.

"I don't have much to add other than what was in my monthly report. March was a very ordinary month. March is normally a very low collection month, and this one was the same," Burlingame said.

He continued, "Taxes are due first of May. Things are picking up now. There are a lot more visits to the office, and we estimate we'll take in three-and-a-half to 3.75 million in April and another couple of million in May."

On the expense side, the director pointed out there were "no particularly unusual things" in the report.

He noted, however, he did remove the sewer fee from the tax collections section, it being a singular, revolving (self-sufficient) fund.

"We put (the sewer fees) where it belongs," Burlingame explained to the councilors. "So you can get a better picture of where we are with the sewer. And we'll do that on a more regular basis than we've done."

In other Finance related matters, Burlingame said he received no monthly reports from the department heads on any overages, "but we expect a few next month."

At the request of members, Burlingame directed members to the cash balance report now being included on a monthly basis.

Councilor Louis Rego, who had sought the specific information, told the director he "commended" him for its inclusion. "It's nice to have it on a monthly basis to see where we are every month," Rego added.

Councilor Derrik Trombley had a question dealing with the previous month's report, seeking to clarify if the director was under the impression revenues "were coming in were a bit under what was average. Is it still? Is it for the calendar year still a bit below average?

Burlingame clarified, saying about revenues, "No. No. We're pretty well where we ought to be. You know what, it's funny. I've looked at the last three years and they're very consistent."

In the stead of the now-vacant position of tax assessor, Town Manager Brian Sullivan presented the council with a pair of abatement requests, which it approved.

A rebate to the 2019 tax roll in the amount of $104.49 for an active duty member of the military pertaining to the car tax was made formal. The vote was for an amended total, not the $401.49 as written on the meeting agenda.

Also, a subtraction to the 2024 tax roll in the amount of $54.03 for a tangible dispensation was approved. It fell under the $50,000 allowable exemption.