Proper Budgeting Process

At the December 8, 2021, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting, resident Frank McCarron gave the Township Manager a lesson in how to properly develop the township budget based on actual numbers rather than essentially cutting and pasting from previous budgets and making inaccurate income and expenditure projections at the beginning of the year.

In his comments. Mr. McCarron frequently cited the recommendations made by eCounsult - the firm the Township hired to prepare a 5-year budgeting plan.

Mr. McCarron suggested that the 2022 budget be revised mid-year to get a better idea on what the 2023 budget should look like. That's where "real numbers" come into play. He also had some ideas regarding what "big items" need to be prioritized. High on his list was adequate funding of Emergency Services (paid firefighters) in order to get 7-day fire coverage. He suggested that the township needs to get help from a certified grant writer and other townships to obtain a Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from FEMA. To date, Newtown has failed 2X to get such a grant (read "The Future of Newtown Township's Paid Fire Services").

View this short video clip of Mr. McCarron's comments:

The Approved 2022 Budget

Mr. McCarron made his statements after the 2022 Budget was approved unanimously by the BOS in a 4-0 vote (Mr. Oxley was absent). The only change from the Preliminary Budget was an adjustment of tax revenue projections: increasing the year end projection by $18,000 for Delinquent EIT tax and increasing the year end projection for Real Estate Transfer tax by $165,560. These amendments resulted in a 2022 year end fund balance figure of $1,504,615 which equates to 10.09% of total budgeted expenditures.

See the 2022 Budget embedded below or download the PDF file.