Legal Definitions - town order

A town order, also frequently referred to as a town warrant, is a formal written instruction issued by the financial oversight officials of a town. This official document directs the town's treasurer to disburse a specific sum of money for an authorized purpose. Essentially, it acts as the necessary authorization for the treasurer to make a payment from the town's public funds.

Here are some examples to illustrate how a town order works:

• Example 1 (Payment for Services): The town of Greenfield contracts with "Eco-Friendly Waste Management" for its weekly trash and recycling collection. After a month of services, Eco-Friendly submits an invoice to the town. The town's auditing committee reviews and approves the invoice, then issues a town order. This order formally directs the town treasurer to pay Eco-Friendly Waste Management $15,000 for the services rendered.

  Explanation: This demonstrates a town order as the official written directive from the town's financial oversight body (the auditing committee) to the treasurer, authorizing payment for a service provided to the town.

• Example 2 (Purchase of Goods): The public works department in the town of Harborview needs to replace several worn-out snowplow blades before winter. After the department head obtains approval from the town manager, the town's finance director (acting as an auditing officer) prepares a town warrant. This warrant instructs the town treasurer to release funds to "Heavy Duty Equipment Supply" for the purchase of the new blades.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the town warrant serves as the formal authorization from a financial oversight official (the finance director) to the treasurer, enabling the payment for essential goods purchased for a town department.

• Example 3 (Reimbursement of Expenses): Mark Johnson, a volunteer member of the town of Summit's historical preservation commission, attends a regional conference on historic building restoration. He pays for his conference registration and mileage out of his own pocket. Upon returning, he submits an expense report with receipts to the town clerk. After the town's designated auditing officials review and verify the expenses, they issue a town order to the treasurer, authorizing reimbursement to Mark Johnson for his approved costs.

  Explanation: This example illustrates a town order being used to authorize the treasurer to reimburse an individual for legitimate expenses incurred while carrying out duties on behalf of the town, following the necessary approval by the town's auditing officials.