BY NANCY KELLY
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Kingston has a new budget process, designed to offer commissioners - and the public -more opportunity for input.
Traditionally, the annual budget has been devised by commissioners and then presented for review at the village’s annual meeting.
“The problem with that system was there was no flexibility to alter the budget at the (annual general) meeting if there were amendments or opposition to it,” says Kingston’s clerk treasurer Greg Towne. “It had to be approved at that meeting.”
The first step in the new budget process will be to “disconnect the budget from the AGM.” Towne says, under the new system, staff will present the 2010/ 2011 budget to the April meeting of the village commission, complete with operating budget, capital budget and five-year capital plan. More emphasis will be put on long-range planning to help the village meet and manage financial commitments.
After the budget is presented to commissioners April 8, the document will be available to the public at the village office, through the local library and other organizations. April 22, a special commission meeting will allow for public input and budget deliberations. More discussion will take place at the May 13 regular commission meeting and the finalized budget will be passed at the AGM in late May.
“April 8 will be our first crack at the budget, April 22 will add more dimension with response from the public and commissioners. When the budget gets to the AGM, there will be no discussion or input taken at that time,” explains Towne. “It will be approved as presented.”
Towne says commissioners have identified maintaining existing levels of service as a priority.
“That will drive the way it comes together.”
The overall goal will be to create fiscal sustainability over a 10-year period through appropriate tax rates, proactive planning, adequacy of reserves and capital replacement and funding.
