Assembly reviews department budgets, flags staffing gaps in finance and assessing

Assembly members reviewed several general‑fund department budgets and repeatedly flagged staffing capacity, particularly in finance and assessing.

Information Technology Director Fred said his fund (100‑125) will focus on a borough‑wide cybersecurity and infrastructure project that reduces other capital work and absorbs staff bandwidth. "We're focusing this year on this cybersecurity project," he said, and warned that vendors are increasing software and licensing costs.

Finance Director Dora Cross told the assembly payroll accounts for most changes in her FY27 submission and described hiring difficulties for a qualified general accountant. Cross said one staff member will be out for six months and that the department is relying on temporary hires or overtime; she said the position was downgraded to a fiscal analyst after poor applicant response but the current team lacks the full expertise for complex accounting, noting asset vs. expense distinctions for enterprise funds.

Assessing staff reported travel savings but left litigation expense high because many open cases are conflicted out from the borough’s new attorney firm; the assessor said, "100" and later, "Every single case I have going right now is conflicted out," prompting assembly questions about the attorney contract and in‑house counsel alternatives.

Assembly members across the bench urged managers to include contingency funding for temporary help in budget drafts and suggested adding an appraiser/tech position to assessing. Staff said temporary hires have been used but require training and recurring temporary workers are preferable for seasonal work.

There were no formal budget votes; managers said they will refine budgets and consider temporary or permanent staffing requests for the upcoming hearings and special sessions.