Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
ADELAIDE METCALFE - In the council meeting on July 15, Township’s financial status and upcoming budget planning were central topics of discussion. Treasurer Johnny Pereira provided updates on the township’s current capital and operational expenditures and outlined the preliminary steps for the 2025 budget process.
The meeting began with an update on the 2024 capital projects. As of June 30, the municipality has completed three of the thirteen planned projects for the year. An unexpected addition was an infrared drone for the fire department, funded by a community emergency preparedness grant. Council received this report without any questions, moving swiftly to approve it for further information dissemination.
Following this, Pereira reviewed the “Operating Budget to Actual” report for June 2024. With the fiscal year halfway through, the report indicated that spending and revenue collection were closely aligned with the budget expectations, primarily due to effective timing of reserve transfers scheduled for year-end. Council accepted this report, noting the alignment with financial targets.
Discussion then shifted towards the future with the introduction of the 2025 budget process. Pereira emphasized the importance of early planning and community engagement. A key component already in place is the budget survey, which has been launched and is available on the township’s website and social media platforms to gather resident input. This initiative is part of a broader effort to involve the community directly in budget decisions.
Furthermore, council plans to continue the budget working group, which includes council members and township staff. This group focuses on detailed reviews and discussions of the budget, enhancing transparency and education about the budgeting process. For the 2025 budget, Councillors Noordhof and Kingma have been appointed to join this group.
Council meeting concluded with a unified approval of the upcoming budgetary preparations and the processes set to unfold in the coming months.
