The town auditor’s management report lists some serious shortcomings in the town’s fixed-asset controls and disturbing questions about special education spending. Financial controls are essential, especially when residents hotly debate spending smaller amounts than the value of a missing tractor and laptop. And as residents spend more money to support the town’s growth, more money will be invested in fixed assets, requiring even more rigorous controls.

Questions about irregularities in special education spending surfaced publicly in February and the discussion has continued for months, officially and unofficially. The allegations of impropriety are serious. The implications to the town and to individuals if an investigation turns up facts that require prosecution are serious. Especially in circumstances like these, it’s important that people remember one of the tenets of our judicial system: people are innocent until proven guilty.