Budget on Tap for Nov. 14 Open House

On Monday night, Nov. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Town of Middletown will hold an open house to hear local residents’ ideas about the upcoming budget year. This event marks the beginning of a new way of designing the budget, one that town officials hope will see more citizens engaged in the discussions.

“The town administrator has come up with a new approach to the budget, and it will take a lot of time and a lot of meetings and a lot of work, but this budget could be really tough,” said town council president Art Weber.

Local residents who attend the Nov. 14 event , which will take place in the Town Council Chambers, in , will have a chance to speak with representatives from key departments, including: Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Town Administrator, Finance, Tax Assessor, Building, and Planning.

Copies of the current budget (FY 2012, which began July 1, 2011, and ends June 30, 2012) and capital improvement plan will be available at the open house.

The budget process typically takes place during the spring, between the April release of a proposed budget (from the town administrator) and the June final vote (by the town cCouncil) on the budget.

By starting early, the town is providing more opportunities for public involvement. A budget-preparation schedule developed by Town Administrator Shawn Brown, and presented to the town council last month, shows two open houses (Nov. 14, 2011; Jan. 25, 2012), followed by budget workshops in February, March and April, and two budget public hearings in May.

There is also an ongoing forum for budget input via the “Open Town Hall” feature on the town’s website, with five topics already posted.