It may only be July, but the West Windsor Township Council is trying to ensure budget season is not limited to the few months over the winter when fiscal decisions are made.
Following up on comments made during the last budget season, some council members wanted to begin discussing the budget as early as July so that they can provide direction to the mayor and administration as the budget is put together at the end of the year.
Council will begin reviewing its overall goals and policies on the budget process at its next meeting on Monday, July 11.
But a more detailed discussion on upcoming projects will be held on Monday, August 15, when Business Administrator Robert Hary will provide a list of capital projects expected for 2012, including the potential need for a new Public Works facility.
Hary told the council on June 27 that he will go over the list of projects, make suggestions for priorities, and provide reasons for each project. Council is expected to provide input on priorities and give direction to the administration as it moves forward with creating the budget for next year.
Council members have called for budget discussions to begin sooner after some said they felt they had to make decisions on the budget in a very short time frame last year. In addition, an efficiency study conducted for the township by an outside consultant last year also recommended that budget discussions be held quarterly.
