Town Budget
All towns operate on a fiscal year which runs from January 1 to December 31. The funds to run the town government are raised in a budget which is prepared and adopted during the fall of the preceding fiscal year. Taxes collected to raise the funds to be used to run the town during the fiscal year are those taxes collected during January in each year. Every expenditure of town funds must be within the provisions made in the annual budget.
The Town Board considers two things when preparing the Annual Budget. First, the budget is the tool by which the Town Board sets priorities of all areas of Town Government. Second, is that the resulting tax levy has serious implications to many of our constituents that are on fixed or low incomes. This situation has been exacerbated by voth the Federal and State governments handing down unfunded mandates that were or should be paid by their revenue sources, not property taxes. This makes the Town Board’s job of providing needed services harder.
Budget Process
The process used to establish the Budget is described in New York State’s Town Law. On or before September 1, the Town Supervisor asks Department Heads and contractors or other agencies for information regarding potential expenditures and revenues for the next year. The Supervisor files a Tentative Budget with the Town Clerk by September 30, and the Town Clerk submits the Tentative Budget to the Town Board by October 5. The Town Board reviews and revises the Tentative Budget and files the Preliminary Budget. A public hearing is set for no later than the Thursday following the election. Final revision and adoption of the budget is conducted after the public hearing, no later than November 20.
