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CFO Lorraine reports $73,000 shared‑service windfall; committee to introduce 2026 budget March 11
Summary
At a Feb. 26 township budget workshop, CFO Lorraine said a change in shared‑service billing added $73,000 in revenue and fixed an appropriations‑cap shortfall; the committee agreed to introduce the 2026 budget at its March 11 meeting and aim for adoption in April.
The township committee heard an update on its draft 2026 budget on Feb. 26, when CFO Lorraine reported a billing adjustment to shared‑service agreements added $73,000 in revenue and helped resolve an earlier appropriations‑cap problem.
"When I adjusted our revenue to account for a full school year, it turns out that we have $73,000 extra in revenue," Lorraine said, explaining she had reviewed shared‑service SLEO and SRO agreements and that one SRO agreement was signed this week. She told members the change added about $40,000 in revenue and, after recalculating the appropriations cap earlier that day, the township had been "$42,000 over cap again." Lorraine said she moved roughly "$4,050,000 dollars of salary and wage" for police from inside the cap to a shared‑service line item, which she said fixed the cap problem.
The CFO said some previously cut line items were reinstated after the revenue and accounting adjustments, including $10,000 for buildings and grounds, $10,000 for DPW, $5,000 for police overtime and a few thousand dollars for DPW overtime. She estimated the draft budget would result in an approximate 2.2% tax increase, though the final rate depends on county and school tax figures not yet set.
Lorraine outlined capital spending plans as well, saying the current‑year capital appropriation is over $1,000,000 and noting the budget includes $210,000 toward a fire truck on order; she added there may be a $2,000 shortfall for related fire equipment. The CFO also said the draft uses about $600,000 of fund balance and that the auditor will confirm the figures once the budget documents are reviewed.
Chair (S1) and other committee members thanked Lorraine and the clerk for the work; members said they were pleased with the direction of the budget and the reinstatement of some cuts. The committee voted to cancel the March 3 meeting and agreed the budget will be introduced at the township committee meeting on March 11, with a public hearing and hopeful adoption planned for April, pending the auditor nd county/school rate confirmations.
The meeting included routine procedural motions to open and close public comment (no members of the public spoke) and a final motion to adjourn.
What happens next: Lorraine said she sent the budget to the auditor and expects confirmation on Monday about document readiness. The committee will introduce the budget March 11 and schedule the public hearing and adoption vote in April, according to the CFO.
