Understanding Town Finances and the Budget Process (S2, 23)

About this episode

The episode explores how the town of Orleans manages its finances and develops its annual budget with insights from Finance Director Darrin Tangeman.

How does a town manage its finances - and what goes into building the annual budget? In this episode of Orleans Behind the Scenes, Amanda Converse and Mia Baumgarten take a behind-the-scenes look at how municipal finance works in Orleans with new Finance Director Darrin Tangeman. The conversation breaks down what the Finance Department does, how the town’s budget is developed, and why financial planning matters for both day-to-day services and long-term sustainability. Listeners will learn how departments work together during the budget process, what challenges towns face when balancing priorities, and how residents can stay informed and engaged as the budget takes shape.

People in this episode

Hosts: Mia Baumgarten, Amanda Converse

Guest: Darrin Tangeman

Topics covered

• town finances
• budget process
• municipal finance
• financial planning
• community engagement

Keywords

• town finances
• budget process
• municipal finance
• financial planning
• Orleans

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Finance Department

Places: Orleans

More episodes of Orleans: Behind the Scenes

• More Than Tax Bills | Inside the Treasurer/Tax Collector's Office (S3, 10) · June 11, 2026 · 21 min
• Building a Resilient Downtown | Orleans' Ecological Infrastructure Project (S3, 09) · May 28, 2026 · 24 min
• Sun, Sand & Stickers | Getting Ready for Orleans Summer (S3, 08) · May 14, 2026 · 8 min
• Fire-Rescue Station & Town Meeting | A Project Update for Orleans Residents (S3, 07) · April 30, 2026 · 21 min
• Wastewater Planning and Projects | What to Expect at Town Meeting (S3, 06) · April 16, 2026 · 11 min
• Understanding the FY27 Town Budget | What Residents Need to Know (S03, 05) · April 2, 2026 · 9 min