Gloucester Township Council Begins Budget Process

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The budget process is underway in Gloucester Township.
Gloucester Township Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank Monday night.

This is an annual proposal that usually accompanies the introduction of the municipal budget. It allows the township to increase its budget up by 3.5 percent over last year's final appropriations, as opposed to the 2.5 percent cap, and bank the excess.

The additional proposed increase amounts to $1,416,664.65, according to a copy of the proposal posted on the township's website. In all, the 3.5 percent increase amounts to $1,983,330.51. The proposed budget has not yet been introduced.

Gloucester Township Council also approved a resolution to make transfers between reserves in last year's budget and this year's budget. This is because the budget appropriation reserve balances are expected to be insufficient for the rest of the fiscal year, so reserves can be transferred during the first three months of 2021.

The proposal would move $61,000 from street repair, and split it up as follows:

• $45,000 for group health insurance;
• $15,000 for sanitation; and
• $1,000 for township attorney fees.