About Our Office...

The Comptroller’s Office is responsible for the Accounting, Budgeting, and Financial Reporting that includes the following activities: payroll and employee health and pension benefits, accounts payable for all funds within the City, Debt Service or payment of interest and principal on city borrowing, liability insurance coverage, Bristol/Burlington Health District and general accounting for all City Funds excluding the Water Department. The Management Information Systems Department reports to the Comptroller’s Office. The Comptroller’s office, in conjunction with the Treasurer's office, is responsible for the investment of available City funds. By charter, the Comptroller is secretary to the Board of Finance and administrative officer for the City of Bristol General City Retirement Program. The Comptroller also acts as fiscal advisor to both the Firefighters’ and Police Benefit Funds. The charter requires that the adopted budget have a balanced relationship between revenues and expenditures as well as the inclusion of pension contributions and debt service requirements. Once adopted, the Board of Finance may make transfers, and if in excess of $5,000, Joint Board approval is also required. Additional appropriations require Board of Finance and Joint Board approval. The only exception to the above involves appropriations from the Reserve Fund for Capital and Nonrecurring Expenditures. This fund was set up under the provisions of Chapter 108 of the Connecticut General Statues. Appropriations are made based on recommendations of the Board of Finance and approval by the legislative body, the City Council.

The Board of Finance has sole power by Charter, to determine the necessity for the manner of issuing bonds by the City of Bristol. Authorization to incur indebtedness through the issuance of bonds or notes must be approved by the Board of Finance. Special appropriations that are financed by bond issues must be approved by the Board of Finance and the Joint Board. The board meets the fourth Tuesday of each month to deliberate upon the financial matters of the City.