Author: Anubha Khankari, Bureau of Local Payments
The Bureau of Local Payments (BLP) plays two key roles in local finance:
- Generating and maintaining Cherry Sheet estimates
- Distributing monthly local aid
The Commonwealth allocates $9 billion annually to 440 cities, towns, and schools through Chapter 70, UGGA (Unrestricted General Government Aid), and Charter School payments/reimbursements, as well as other smaller aid programs.
Local finance officials must conduct monthly reconciliations of all cash and receivables as a standard practice. Moreover, given that local aid constitutes a significant portion of revenue for both communities and educational institutions, it is essential to verify the proper receipt of payments across all relevant accounts.
Below are a few resources available for cities and towns to view their state aid distributions to reconcile payments and assessments:
CTHRU Portal
Accessible via the Office of the Comptroller website CTHRU - Office of the Comptroller, CTHRU serves as the financial records transparency platform for revenue, statewide spending, and payroll. This resource offers users an intuitive interface to explore how public funds are allocated and spent.
Step-by-step instructions for accessing payment information through the CTHRU portal:
1.) Go to the CTHRU portal and select "Statewide Spending"
2.) Use the search bar to search by name, vendor, appropriation or zip code to narrow down.
3.) To view transactions, select “Checkbook” to see all the transactions in a list format
4.) This data can be exported into a spreadsheet using the “download” button.
Treasury Department’s Distribution Breakdown Report
The state Treasurer publishes a monthly report on local aid distribution by program. Local officials can scroll through these reports to view the breakdown for their individual community/district/school. The link is available on the DLS website.
Prioritizing monthly reconciliation and using tools like the CTHRU portal and Treasurer’s Distribution Breakdown helps cities and towns maintain accuracy and transparency, thus supporting effective financial management and budgeting. Beyond verifying local aid receipts/assessments, finance staff should also consult and implement the Financial Management Resource Bureau's (FMRB) recommended procedures for reconciling cash and receivables to enhance the effectiveness of their monthly reconciliation processes. Additional information and guidance can be found on our website.
Helpful Resources
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Editor: Dan Bertrand
Editorial Board: Tracy Callahan, Sean Cronin, Janie Dretler, Jessica Ferry, Christopher Ketchen, Paula King, Jen McAllister, Brianna Ortiz and Tony Rassias
| Date published: | December 4, 2025 |
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