1873-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN. THE change in the close of the fiscal year from the first of March to the first of February; making a year of eleven months, naturally creates some embarrassment in making up the ac- counti, as the period neither corresponds with the full yearly service of the town officers, nor with the annual appropriations. And this embarrassment is increased by the fact that within the eleven months, we have had two sets of' town officers ; and that the accounts are to be made up and printed in the short period of about two weeks. • The vote changing the fiscal year can- templated that the reports of the different officers should be submitter) to the town in print. Such was the statement made at the time by the advocates for the change ; and the main reason for the change was, that the people might have an oppor- tunity of sitting down at their leisure and reading in print the acts and doings of their own officers, before the annual elec- tion. The vote, as recorded by the Clerk, does not mention the printing ; but it requires that these reports should be circu- lated with the warrant for March Meeting, so that every citizen may be able to judge of the fidelity of his public servants ; and surely it could not be expected that the town officers would make five hundred written copies of their reports, to be circu- lated with the warrant to all the voters. The following is a copy of the vote_ as recorded: " Voted,— That the financial year of this town be closed on the first of February, and that the reports of the several officers of the town be made to that date, and be circulated with the warrant for the March Meeting." This vote clearly -contemplates no other change in the finan- cial accounts or reports of the town officers, than that they be