A computer software upgrade that means less paperwork and more cops out on the streets. Or cameras mounted on police cars that make summonses stick.
These are some of the wish list items that council members had to ferret through at the first preliminary budget meeting.
To expedite the budget process, the auditor and chief financial officer compiled a $7.8 million budget for the council. The council, hard-pressed to meet a state aid deadline this month, may look to adjust the figures before the March 12 meeting.
The spending plan is $496,000 more than last year’s budget of $7.3 million. Mayor John Hogan said that taxes would jump dramatically from the 14.3 percent increase in the tax levy. Rising costs in pension plans and supplies were some of the reasons the CFO noted for increases, he said.
Doubting the justification, he then said that he would "find any technicality to not get the budget passed" without further cuts to the $4.8 million tax levy and a firm fingerprint from the Council.
"It’s all the [work of the] CFO and auditor and there’s no way I can justify that," said Hogan.
Council members listened Saturday to financial requests and justifications from the police and municipal court department heads. Of the two reports, the police heads suggested purchasing $15,000 public safety software called CODY and auctioning up to four used patrol cars in order to buy a new one.
Representatives from the bulk of municipal departments yet to be consulted include the Department of Public Works, the Fire Department and Recreation Department.
The CFO told the mayor and five council members to keep an ongoing wish list and to "take it from there" by sorting the items that may be funded through grants or purchased by bonds.
Council member JoAnn Traub said that for instance, she would look into financial incentives to municipalities in purchasing a hybrid vehicle for Police Chief Bruce Tietjen.
By picking up the budget ball now, Hogan said that the borough might stand a chance in meeting the March 21 extraordinary aid deadline to municipalities.
