Gloucester Township Continues To Wait For State Budget Approval

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Almost two weeks after a public hearing on its proposed budget, Gloucester Township continues to await state approval before the official adoption.

In April, council introduced a proposed $64,288,627.63 budget with no tax rate increase. The budget is $1.7 million more than last year's budget. The total amount to be raised through taxation would be $47,829,279.04.

At the May 29 meeting, council set aside a resolution amending the budget in case it had been approved by the state, but the township had not received word from the state as of that time.

As of the council meeting on Monday night, June 10, the state still had not given the township approval to adopt its proposed budget, officials said.

“It’s a little late, but it has to be reviewed by the local finance board, and we need their go-ahead,” Council President Orlando Mercado said during Monday night’s meeting at the municipal building. “We adhered to all their guidelines and dates.”

Business Administrator Tom Cardis said he has been in contact with the local finance board about some questions they have about the proposed budget. He didn't specify what those questions were, but he anticipates that council will be able to adopt the budget at the June 24 meeting.

“They just assigned a budget examiner last week,” Cardis said of the local finance board. “This is not unusual. I’ve seen other municipalities go through this, and I’ve seen Gloucester Township in a similar situation in the past.”

In 2009, Mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton introduced a budget in February that wasn’t approved until the fall, Mercado pointed out. That was the same year the township held fall elections for the first time, and David Mayer won the mayor’s seat that fall. The budget was adopted after Mayer took office.

This budget was the last fiscal year budget. Budgets have all been calendar year budgets since 2010. Polidoro also pointed out that once the budget was introduced, it was up to council to move it forward then, as it is now.

Polidoro pointed out that other towns that work on the same calendar-year budget schedule have their budgets adopted by the end of April, including Voorhees, Union and Montclair.

“We’re halfway through the year, and we’re still working on the budget,” Polidoro said.
“Is this normal,” resident Sam Sweet asked.

“It’s not abnormal,” Cardis said.

Sweet asked if amendments can be made to the budget during this time. Cardis said the state may come back and make suggestions on amendments to the budget. The township can also decide to make amendments on their own. Those amendments may require a public hearing, but some amendments can be made without them.