The System: The Handling of Ambulance Receipts

Chris Martin may not have time to go over the checks and balances of town finances, but most of it is a matter of law and a matter of record. You can find the information at the DOR website, just search for A Guide to Financial Management for Town Officials.

The Fire Department bills the insurance companies for the ambulance services. The payments go through the following people.

1. The Town Collector receives the ambulance payments, records them, and deposits them. She must turn over receipts to the treasurer at least once a week. Our town treasurer is Karen Stellato.
2. The treasurer is the cash manager of a town. He is responsible for the deposit, investment, and disbursement of town funds. Essentially, he manages the cash flow of the town. Our town treasurer is Steve Nally.
3. The Town Accountant's role is to review the municipality’s financialbooks and ensure that proper proceduresare being maintained. Town accountants review proposed expendituresto make sure that money has beenlawfully appropriated to pay for them.Accountants are empowered to prepare allwarrants for payment (a warrant is a list of bills drawn up by the accountant for signatureby the selectmen or manager) andto withhold payment of a particular itemif they have reason to believe the expense is illegal or fraudulent, or in excess of appropriation. To authorize expenditure payments, accountants should make sure that serviceshave been performed, that sufficient money is available in the appropriation account, that the expenditure is for a legal purpose, and that procurement of the good or service occurred in conformance with purchasing requirements. Copies of all contracts involving payments to vendors should be sent to the office of the accountant, who will approve all requests for payment upon receipt of goods or services by the town. The accountant is responsiblefor custody of all municipal contracts.

Mark