Westwood Council Begins 2012 Budget Work

Westwood's Mayor and Council hope to introduce a budget that does not exceed a one percent increase and reduces the borough's debt. They began working on the 2012 budget at a 2.5-hour special meeting Wednesday, during which they worked line-by-line through the first 26 pages of expenses.

The council decided to limit the meeting to 2.5 hours so they would remain alert through the entire process. The council started making the budget about a month later last year.

"I'd rather have an extra session and do it freshly," Mayor John Birkner said.

One potential issue is that the borough is still waiting on a number of grants and other revenue, which could generate more than $500,000 if they brought in as much money as last year. This is not likely, according to Chief Financial Officer Ray Herr, who said that several of the sources will not be bringing in money this year. Others could vary from year to year, Herr said.

"We're going to be a little short in some of those revenues," Herr said.

According to Herr, the borough has approximately $2 million surplus from 2011 to put toward this year's budget.

The Mayor and Council will continue discussing the 2012 budget at another special meeting on February 16.