Orangetown Adopts Budget Calendar

The Orangetown Council voted to adopt a calendar leading up to the adoption of the 2014 town budget during the regular meeting Tuesday night.

Town Attorney John Edwards proposed one change during the meeting, that being adding a meeting Oct. 29 if the board decides to have a vote on a resolution allowing the council to override the state mandated tax cap.

The town board voted down such a resolution in 2011, but passed it last year. When the board voted to adopt the 2013 budget, it was with the understanding that the tax levy increase did exceed the state mandated tax cap, though once the exemptions were figured in, it actually came in under the cap. For more on last year's process, read this report on Patch. 

The calendar is as follows:

• June 25 -- Last date for department heads to submit a capital budget for 2014 and a capital improvement plan for 2014 through 2018. 
  
• July 9 -- Last date for department heads to submit estimates of 2014 operating expenses and expenditures to the Supervisor. 
• Sept. 3 through Sept. 17 -- The Orangetown Council members will hold meetings with one another and with the department heads to discuss the budget. 
• Sept. 17 -- Last day for each ambulance and paramedic district and South Orangetown libraries to submit estimates of revenues and expenditures along with audited financial statements.
• Sept. 24 -- Last day for Supervisor Andy Stewart to file a tentative budget and budget message for 2014 and estimates and schedules for the administrative unites. The town clerk will distribute the 2014 tentative budget to the rest of the town council at a town board meeting and publish it on the town website.
• Oct. 8 -- Last day for each fire district to submit proposed 2014 budgets to the town clerk and notice of public hearing on 2014 budget.
• Oct. 15 -- Public hearing date for all fire districts
• Oct. 22 -- Public hearing date to amend the Town Code to allow the town council to override the tax levy cap for 2014. Also the last day for the town board to review the tentative budget and file the preliminary budget with the town clerk, who will publish it on the town website. .
• Oct. 29 -- If needed, town board will meet to vote on resolution allowing the tax cap override.
• Nov. 12 -- Public hearing on the preliminary budget at 8 p.m. at town hall. The town board may adopt the final budget at this meeting.
• Nov. 19 -- Legal deadline for 2014 budget adoption.