Oh, so we can't be muted. No, I was just saying thank you. Thank you. All right, Madame Clerk. Um, the time is now 4:04. We'd like to start the bud budget work session. The time is 404, and I'd like to call
the township 2026 budget work sessions to order. Councilwoman Peron, not present at this time. Councilman Anderson, not present at this time. Councilwoman Macintosh, not present at this time. Deputy Mayor Dr.
Worthy, >> present. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> present. Notice was provided in compliance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 to the Burlington County Times, Trenton Times, and Philadelphia Inquir stating the date, time, place, and the agenda to the
extent it was known. Additionally, notice was filed in the office of the township clerk. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Please rise for the flag salute. I pledge of America and to the republic for stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, good afternoon. We are back once again for our budget work sessions. Um, Madame Clerk, please um, let the record show that Councilwoman
Macintosh has arrived. First up, we have Chief Bernett for our fire and EMS department. >> Good afternoon, Chief. >> Good afternoon. >> All right. just refreshing my memory really quick.
Okay. Um so in the first few pages um it stated that there were no changes really in your budget. Everything remained flat. Yeah. in the in the first few pages
allocation and growth. >> Okay. >> Right. So I did see um there was a reduction in EMS part-time
that is account 012 under EMS you requested 75,000 and were granted 50,000. So it did you do you feel as you need more EMS staff? >> Right. So, um I believe that um Miss
Stigs um and and with Mr. Harris, we put in four four full-time from uh June to the end of the year >> u by the time we process everything. So, that that's why there's there's an increase in line 011.
>> Okay. And then the pdams are more for um back filling shifts and we may use them on second rigs uh because we get a lot of calls in right bro. Um so matter of fact um I think that we're trying to build the pool up um I sent a letter
over to um HR today to bring the pool up to eight uh 15 um 15 prediums. Right now we have nine. Um I did submit for one more that should be 10. And then um the pool should be 15. That's my my recommendation.
>> Okay. So, how many does the 50,000 get up mistakes? Do you know? >> Right. So, they're not used every day. is when they're available and then we try to back fill or try to have at least a second rig on um
a second rig on um whenever we can and they'll backfill uh when full-time staff is um not available. >> Okay. >> So, I said the 50,000 I'm hoping should that's the hope. Um if it gets close to the end of the year, I'll have some
discussions with Miss Diggs to see whether we can uh move that a little bit higher. Okay. Okay. Yeah, because you were allocated 50,000 last year. Um, but you only used about half of it. So, >> right. And that's because we didn't have
that many predans back then. I think we only had about two or uh around three or four unpreds back then. So, we're trying to build that up because of our amount of calls that we're getting um and that we there's a need for having the EMS uh on duty. Okay.
All right. Any questions? Any other questions from council at this time? >> Deputy Mayor. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, Chief, in the fire department special pays that ends with line 016.
>> Yes. >> I saw that the requested was 150. It went down to 100, which is still a a sizable increase from the actuals of 25. Can you talk more about what that additional what the additional special pays may be for?
>> Right. So, the special pays are for um in the uh collective bargaining agreement. That's for their holiday pay. Um and the 150 um I think was uh was not correct. That was entered when we were
having discussions with Miss Diggs. Um we usually spend about a h 100,000 uh but with the extra holiday it may be just a little bit over 100,000 >> um since since the council has approved the extra uh 13th holiday. So it may be
uh around um 10 when it's all said and done. >> Okay. So then the 100 wouldn't be sufficient. We would need to go up a little bit potentially. Just for the special pays you're saying
for 16 um account 16. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> SP 72 in 2025. >> And then looking at the um one holiday we have additional >> um >> so >> but we spent more the past year. Seven.
>> Yeah. So >> maybe fewer employees or something. >> So remember I told you that it got must got charged to a different line, >> right? Charged to the wrong line. So, we spend about 100,000 every year. >> Yeah.
>> I got to check it in a savings account. >> Yeah. You think we should should be >> it would it would be more it would be more than the 100. So in 2024 it was 10509. If we've added an additional holiday and
pays have increased since 2024, it would have to be more than 100. >> So it may be around 110. >> Okay. So I just want to make sure we're considering that. And I didn't look at the special pays in
the one the budgets we looked at yesterday. >> I didn't I'll go back and Um, no, that that's all I had, Madame Mayor. Oh, one more. Um, Chief, I don't I'm sure it's in here for the Youth Fire Academy. How are we looking for
>> funding? >> That's on uh line uh that is >> 130. >> When do you have? Yep. 1:30. Okay, we've got 5,000. Okay,
just to reiterate that it is our preference to have as many Willingboro Township residents. Yes. >> participate in that program as possible. >> Yes. And that's been relayed over to Mike, too. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Also, I know we're um the applications have opened.
>> Yes. Um, and it may be good. >> Um, it may be good to um I don't know if you've sent flyers through the schools. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Uh, my coordinator should have sent them out to the schools and other various um various locations.
>> Okay, great. >> Madame Clerk, please let the record show that Councilman Anderson has arrived. Nothing. Um, Councilman Anderson, I know you just walked in, but we're on fire. Did you have any questions?
>> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Chief. Good. >> Yep, we're good. >> Thank you very much. >> No, but you know how All right. Next is police.
All right. Police. Captain Bucks. Chief Bucks. Sorry. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Good afternoon. How's everybody today? >> Good afternoon. Very well. Glad to have you back.
>> Glad to be back. Been uh yeah, been MIA for a little bit at a at a medical procedure, >> but we got to make sure you're healthy. >> I'm good. 100% back. >> Good. >> All right. Thank you. All right. >> Sure. Absolutely. Deputy mayor.
>> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um Chief, I just wanted to um take a look at the training. I know for admin training it went down um about half. Um will the will you have enough budgeted funds for the training required for the admin staff?
It's in line item 028. Last year we spent 4377. This year the proposed is 2,000. >> So what happened with the with that? Yeah. I mean it would be we kind of overdrew on on that account.
>> Okay. But we had enough in the uh in the control to cover you know the uh you know the that amount of training that we were able to have. So I think as long as you know if I did the numbers correctly with everything else we should be good with that.
>> Would 4377 though be a more accurate number for yes training and so maybe we need to adjust it. Do you anticipate spending about the same this year? I know it's all within the your accounts, but we're just trying to see how much
we're actually spending on >> specific categories. >> That would be probably accurate. >> Okay. So, Miss Dixs, can we Madame Mayor, if that makes sense, can we adjust that line 028? I think it's important for the community to see how
um we're allocating the money, especially for training. um when we're looking at the different departments, I think it's meaningful for people to see that we have a highly trained um force. your overall control be >> correct.
>> So the training whatever cost or expense he incur during the year for training it is going to hit that training line. the line will show that it's over but his overall control would be okay but overall unless you want me to make some
squish for the actual 4300 in training then deduct the difference in another line >> that's what I think it's preferred because the point is to understand how much we're spending where because what if in 27 you know if it just shows that he just keeps overspending instead of
actually projecting how much it really costs for training okay >> that's the challenge because we're trying to trend it and see over time, you know, how much are we >> spending, how much are we investing in training? >> Okay. >> And also in that I would say that um our budget and the budget that we put forth
is like how we value different things in the municipality, right? It's our it's our moral document really. So, it's important that the budgeted amounts, you know, equal up to or match what we're
intending on uh spending that money on. I'm going to increase 028 to >> 843 >> 4500 >> 4500. So, we'll have to find that 2500
somewhere else. >> Well, you said it was in there, right? Cuz it was going to be moved around. >> I had to find Take that 2500. >> What about >> office supplies? Did you see that one? >> I didn't. >> Okay. Yeah, that was the other one I was
questioning was office supplies. It looked like we had a a large uptick in office supplies spending. That's line 023. Um it was budgeted for 1,500. We spent 4373.
So, can you talk a little bit about that one? Yeah, this kind of was the similar similar circumstances where that line item was at was at 1500 and our expenses that we kind of knew that uh we pulled from that line knowing that we weren't going to go over uh the control number.
>> So I I mean I think 1500 is is probably accurate. You know, last year was a little bit of of an anomal anomaly if you look at the previous years to where we knew that we had other uh you know we weren't going to go over that control. So, we had just an increase of uh of office supplies for whatever reason that
it was. >> Yeah, that was a sharp increase and it was different from all the previous kind of right about that the same. I think 1500 would be would be an accurate number for that uh for that line that particular line item.
Do you have anything? Council Mintosh. >> Oh, yes. >> I'm sorry. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. And chief, for um bike repairs, I know that's important to make sure we're we're good for bike repairs. Last year we went over um a couple hundred dollars. Are you
anticipating that same level? I know it's a bit hard to anticipate the repairs, but >> So yeah, what happened was is every year before bike season starts, we have all of our bikes uh serviced and uh I'm I'm not 100% sure if that was the reason why because we I think we we picked up an
extra bike. We have not we now have uh five bikes. Okay. Okay. So, I don't know if that was for some additional uh equipment or what that particular uh you know increase. What number? Uh what where you at? >> Patrol police bike 039. >> I'm sorry. I I cut you off. I'm sorry. >> 039. >> What was the the
>> patrol police bike repair maintenance page? Yes. 57. >> Does he have the same page numbers as us? >> If you can give me the last six numbers, I might be uh 412 >> four. Okay, I got you. Thank you.
>> 039. Yeah, more than likely that was uh that was just for you know servicing servicing the bikes and maybe for an additional Yeah, I don't know. I don't know.
>> I guess we're just trying to see if, you know, if it's going to be about the same this year or >> because we have had some instances of things hitting the wrong. It's hard at this point to figure out like what is a error because things hit the wrong line and then what's the actual >> So that would be accurate just looking
at what Miss Ucia just showed me. That was for the service of our all five of our our fall our Yeah. all five of our troll bikes. >> Okay. And is that an annual you do? >> We do that every year before we because we store the bikes over the winter and then uh when we get ready to start bike
season, which is which is now we'll take them to the bike shop. Um I know we changed the location where we uh we used to go to a certain bike shop. Now we go to a different one and I think the pricing is a little bit better at the current the current spot that we're at. >> Okay. So, it might be Well, we'll see.
>> Yeah, I think I think if we leave that number right where it's at, I think we, you know, we'll be we'll be good at at at that 800 because of the the change in the shops that we went. >> Okay. >> Can I keep going? >> Um, and for SWAT, I'm at patrol SWAT 24117.
Um, the projection in 25 was 2500. We were at 4251 um actual. Are you anticipating 2500 being where we need to be or are you anticipating an uptick there?
>> Uh, not part not expecting an uptick in that line. >> You promise? >> Yes. >> Okay. Now, I'm just looking through and it's we've got quite a few spots where I think overall the budget was where it was supposed to be, but for council, we're trying to show the community how
we're divvying the money up, not just that we're staying within the budget, right? >> Um and so that's where that's why I'm just asking some of those questions. We're just trying to stay on on par. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. All right. Um
uh Councilwoman McIntosh. Yes. >> Yep. So, it's a combination of both. We have two dogs. Uh, a lot of times we put in a certain amount. You're, it's one of the ones where you're never 100% sure what's going to happen with, you know, one of our canines if they have, you
know, if something happens to them medically to be able to have enough funding in there to cover the bills medically, if there's another way that if something were to happen, like, you know, that's why we we kind of have those numbers. Last year, we were we were we were anticipating trying to get
a uh another K9 to add a third canine. it just didn't work out last year as far as uh you know being able to uh to acquire one. Uh and that's why the number was a little bit higher uh last year. But a lot of that that that uh those numbers it it kind of depends on
the health of the dog. >> So um yeah, that's where sometimes you worry if it's too little, do you have enough to cover? And if we don't, is there a is there another way to get funding to cover
>> insurance? >> For police dogs, no insurance. >> Because of the work >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> You got a dangerous job. >> Yeah. We it'd be like the state healthc care plan keep going up and
>> um also with that K9 are you still trying to acquire a new dog and if if so what type of K9 are >> so the one that we we just applied for a grant um and we we didn't receive it but the one we were looking at was going to be a dual so there's a dual purpose dogs
which means that they have two purposes one is either a specialty and then patrol. So, we were, you know, the the the grant that we're applying for, we're looking to do some type of like a therapy dog. And then, you know, with the uh with the the the increasing increase of of bomb threats that we
have, that was going to be the other specialty and looking more of like a like a like a labador, like a lab, you know, because again, I love German shepherds, but some people don't like German shepherds because they just look meaner. So, you know, for a therapy dog, you know, we were thinking along the
line of a of a of a lab. And that way, you know, labs are lovey and and, you know, cuddly and stuff like that. So, that's the the and they're great. They're great working dogs also because they have great, you know, great noses, great scent. So, that was kind of where we were where we were trending to with the with the grant that we applied for.
>> Okay. So, for like a bomb dog. >> Yeah. >> And how much how much would that be if you were to get that lab? >> They they vary. I don't know. I don't. So I know what German shepherds are, you know, and what you do is when you pay German shepherds range anywhere between
seven and $10,000. So what you're what you're paying for is but you're paying for the guarantee health and the guarantee that the dog will be trainable. So when you buy the dog from, you know, from a vendor is that they're that the dog is going to be able to be trained and then you're also they're
guaranteeing the health. When I what I mean by that is some dogs that'll come to training and they they don't pick up on the training. So what you do is hey this dog is isn't you know adapting to the specialty training whether it's patrol work or whether it's the drug work and then they're okay cool and they
give you a new dog. So that's kind of what you and also when you know when you get the dog as you we take them to we take them to Willenboroough vet you know and we get them x-rayed we get the we get do a our own um uh medical checkup to make sure that they're that they're in good health and then within a certain
period if they you know if they start having some is hip issues again you can go ahead and swap the dog out. So that's that's >> to 10,000 include the training or the 7 to 10,000 is for the dog itself. >> 7 to 10 is just for the dog itself. training. We have a we have a great
relationship with New Jersey uh Police K9 Association and I believe the training is very minimal. I think it's $75. >> Oh, okay. >> You know, and that that what that does is that gives you the training plus it gives you the inservice training because we we uh train our dogs twice a month. You know, one day is for their specialty
and you know, basically each specialty. So, if it's a bomb dog and patrol work, it would be one, you know, and it's every other week. So one week on that Wednesday it would be for you know the bomb work and then the other the other uh two weeks later it would be for you
know the patrol work. Um so and just to kind of keep rambling on is the uh is uh when you come down to uh you know the g the guarantees and that's why some people talk about um when maybe you get a dog from a shelter or so on and so forth. But sometimes what happens is as
a municipality if you go and you get that dog from a shelter and it doesn't work out it's still property of the municipality. So you know unless someone's willing to you know to take ownership of it and relieve the municipality of uh you know any financial obligation then you know we're
kind of still stuck with all the other expenses but >> we have disability. >> Yeah maybe someone's pet you know. So that's kind of some of the thing you know some of the reasons why you know uh we we steer away from you know the shelters or donated dogs and go towards
those vendors you know where they give you those guarantees. All right. And then the Sure. >> So our specifically for Willingboro, but we do is like we do have uh you know um not mutual aid agreements, but we do if if another municipality needs our dog
for its specialty, we do respond to those, you know, while they're working, we do respond to uh to those uh different municipalities. So again, if we just like other municipalities have responded to us for, you know, the bomb threats, we put a uh we put a tone out over our radios and if a if a bomb dog
is working and they're available, they would come to, you know, come to Willing Bro and they would do that search or if we needed it for a narcotic search or whatever it is. And you know, some of some of the the benefits of being able to do that is now we get let's say if it's a nar a narcotic search and I'm
just going to use crazy numbers just because it's just easier. And let's say, you know, we do a narcotic search on on a a tractor trailer and there's a million dollars in the tractor trailer, we're part of that investigation. And then when the county goes to forfeit on the on that money, we get a piece of it
because we were still we were a part of that investigation. So that's kind of how you know. >> Okay. >> You're welcome. >> Also, in the training line, we're going to stay on dogs for a minute. Yes, ma'am. Um, in the training line, we've
allocated the thousand dollars, but I see that it wasn't used last year. Um, do are we still doing training on the current dogs that we have, or is this an anticipation of another dog? >> I'll be honest with you, I could have sworn that we we pulled from that line
item last year, but I guess obviously we didn't because it shows up as zeros. So, uh, you know, we are, like I said, our the the the training is used for the, uh, for the handlers and for the dogs, and we use, um, we use New Jersey Police K9 Association, which is a which is a
minimal cost, but we do send our officers out to, uh, you know, there's been training down in Kate May and things like that. So, um, yeah, I don't know. Uh, I don't know what happened last year. So would it be okay with council if we
put that one at 500 for this year the K9 training. All right. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Chief I saw on um the special office perm part-time that's 243012.
The actual last year was 62,000 and this year we're requesting another um requesting 80,000. Can you share more about that line item? >> I don't have that one. Uh >> I have >> 24312.
>> It's probably going to be our >> special office perm part-time. I don't have that in front of me, but what I believe it is, it's going to be our special officers that are uh permanent part-time is what it's what it's referring to. Um, and you said it went from 60
>> Last year we spent 62 >> and we're requesting 80 this year. >> Yes, ma'am. >> One of the the officers came in late in the year. One of the one of the special officers didn't start
full time in the beginning of the year. >> Okay. >> So, is that the um so we have we have two special officers Tommy and um and Taquel. >> So, yeah, that came not the beginning of the year.
>> You may be thinking of uh the evidence custodian who went from part-time to full-time. >> Yeah. But >> so, >> but we think we need 80 for 2026. >> I would defer that to Miss Jussi because I don't that's more of a salary uh question and she usually runs those
numbers. >> Yeah. >> For four year. Yes, we do need 80. >> Yeah. No, I'm convenient. We need 80. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
And then for the special officer, the special office overtime um there's no budget for it um for the past number of years. There hasn't been a budget for it, but we've been spending
on that line item for the past three years. Um 243015 overtime, special office overtime. So, we haven't budgeted anything for that line item for the past what, four
or five years. Um, but we have been spending under that line item for the past three years. So, do we need an appropriation for that line item? >> Um, it will be part of the ED.
It will be part of the 80. >> But this is for overtime. This is not for >> what I could do. Yeah. Is >> can we take some from the 80 input? >> Yep. I could do 2500 to the 415 and then
um the rest of it stays in the 012. >> Okay. So minus 2500 from the 80,000 for permanent part-time and we'll add the 2500 to overtime. Okay.
>> Yeah. >> Yes, they are. >> Yeah, they are for the past three years. I don't work. >> The only time they uh unless you're unless you're uh pulling
for uh Yeah, that would be the only thing. You have something else, Stephanie? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, chief of the detectives for their travel 244022. Um, we spent twice what was allocated
last year. Do you anticipate this year being about the same? >> That's uh again one of those numbers where sometimes things happen where uh we get called to travel. The prosecutor's office gives us a call and
says, "Hey, listen. We got a uh we got, you know, information or whatever that one of their cases, like a recent ones is one of our detectives had a day's notice that they had to travel down to Miami, you know. So that was one of, you know, those those things that kind of just happened where it's like, okay, we
had the funding in there and then for we utilized it for, you know, for one of for some different type of travel and then that came up and it was like, okay, we we kind of knew where we would be within that, you know, within that control and that's why it was, you know, why it doubled. But I,
you know, 750 is normally the appropriate amount, but there are those certain circumstances where, you know, certain things uh >> do come up where our detectives, you know, um have to have to unfortunately travel.
>> Okay. And I know Youth Police Academy is in here somewhere. Um how are we looking for Youth Police Academy? >> We're looking We're looking good. you know, obviously, uh, you know, more money is always better, but no, we're good. You know, we're good. You know, we we've kind of worked with that same
number the last couple years. Um, we do have some other things that we, you know, that help, uh, that help offset, you know, some expenses that, you know, that we may incur, but, uh, you know, we've been, uh, we've been good. You know, that, uh, that line item, it's it falls under, uh, community uh, crime
prevention community uh, equipment. It's going to be 245131. So that kind of encompasses all of our in all all of our community investments. So to kind of like I said to offset some costs and some other things we do
partner with different organizations you know different departments within the municipality to kind of share certain costs or you know just split some of the costs. So uh yeah that's uh that's an accurate number where you know we've consistently been able to stay within
the last the last couple years. >> Okay. And I just want to re reiterate from the council that we prefer as many Willingboro residents as possible to participate in our free uh youth police academy. >> Yes, ma'am. That's our that's our standard procedure where Willingboro residents are the always the first ones
to get a preference. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Um Chief, one other question for 244149 detectives informant fees. Um, I know that you know the detectives use
informants. >> Um, we did have an uptick after a number of years and added about $2,000 to that line item. >> Um, do we still need that full amount?
Because I see you spend it all every year, >> but can we get the work done on less money? >> I wish we could. Um, we use that we use that a lot for, you know, for without getting trying to get into too much uh information, we do utilize that the full
amount of that line item every year for different um investigative techniques. >> Okay. >> Okay. They don't work for free. >> Why we paying these snitches a lot?
>> Yeah. Additional 2,000. >> That was 5,000. That's 5,000. All right. Any other questions? Oh, wait. >> Mr. Soft is right on time. >> Did you see there's nothing? I just
flipped through. I don't see anything in the youth police youth academy. Mine. It's in the community. Yeah, it got all it all got into one. >> Fire us is 5,000 and theirs is only two week.
>> I don't >> deputy mayor starting stuff over here. >> I don't I don't want to tell her that we may be planning a trip to Annapolis. She might get mad at me, but Okay. All right. Anything else? No. >> All right. Thank you, Chief. >> All right. Thank you guys. Appreciate
your time. >> Thank you. >> We're exploring it. >> We got to switch it up. We got to give them the opportunity. Listen, >> we're at West Point last year. We have to give them a different different options, different choices. Some people
may like the sea over the land. >> Oh, it was All right, Miss Carmichael, do you want to um do senior services next? Yeah. All right. Now, Miss Carmagel, I know um we had talked about rolling the senior services
into the recreation department. We're still doing the budget separately this year. >> Yes. As far as I know, there hasn't been conversation to combine, >> but I will confirm on that for you. >> Mhm. That's all right.
Yeah, it's in front of Miscellaneia. Um, Miss Carmichael on line 098, Office of Aging Medical Exams. We It seems like we typically don't use that line item.
Yes, we um we did I did discuss that with Mr. Harris. That would be it was various reasons unknown you said. So, it's typically if there was a medical exam, if it was for a staff, that's under human resources and allocated
there. There isn't anything that would be needed in the senior center. >> All right. So, let's take that down to zero >> 098. It only takes off $270. >> Only 270. Thank you. Miss Carmarmac recognize you may not have all the answers yet because there
are some changes underway. I was curious for line item 062 that's office of aging programs. Um it's a significant decline over from 24 to 25 and now at 26 it's nothing there.
Can you share where how the money is being allocated or how that's being distributed so that we have the programs going on? >> Yes. So 062 is for payment to instructors for different instructors for the programs. >> Okay. So um the programming will be on
060 >> and that >> that's event. >> Yes. So that's like the fourth of July their Christmas um the holiday event musical those type of the senior center event >> is paid under 060. The programming that
is for 2025 it was um >> so when you say >> we paid the instructors. >> Okay. So that would be like the yoga computer classes and things like that >> would be in the past that was 062. >> Yes. And I'm sorry I should have said that but in and that's what that line
was used for in 2025 is to pay the instructors. Okay. Sorry that's my mistake. >> Yeah. >> And so for 2026 the instructors are paid from what how how will instructors be paid or is there a change in
>> the structure of how contractors are paid. It is in 132 contractual and 29 is not the number. There has to be an increase of an additional 25. So we'll break we totaled the cost of all
their contracts. So the amount for that will be 57 to pay the um instructors and contractor for 2023. So >> it says 29. You said you going to add 25. Yes. >> So there'll be 54,
>> right? >> Yeah. Sorry. Yes. >> Okay. >> 28. Yeah, that does say 28. >> Oh, you're adding 28. >> 28. >> Okay. Adding 28. >> It says 28 and then so make it 57. Yes. >> Okay. So, we anticipate spending a bit less cuz last year
>> we Well, >> well, it would be >> last year was a lot of transfer. >> Yeah, it was. Yeah. cuz this one is looking like there was a transfer in. Also, there was um you spent probably
double what was allocated for it. And then if programs >> 132. >> Okay. >> Mhm. And then if programs also was a line item that captured um contracts, that would be another
10,000. if something's going on. I think we need, madame may, I think we need a more understanding in terms of the structure of how the department's going to run. Um, because it could be some changes in terms of how they're
allocating things, but it's from the budget alone, we can't we can't see it. Like, is recreation absorbing certain things? Are they combining efforts? Like, we can't tell that from here. and they're in the process of hiring like it's
>> Yeah. And also I remember last year we we questioned this change last year you know because we had allocated zero under programs and we were assured that yes everything will continue
um and be carried out um at the same level. But then we also have 10,000 that ended up being spent in that line item. And then also an overage in the contractual line item
right 062 and 132. Yeah, there were a lot computer instructor. >> I didn't write down. I looked at it. >> Right. And I think we're just looking at for the rest of 26. So maybe um Mr. Harris can share a departmental overview
like what what the goals are and how they're going to move for the rest of 26 and then that can inform the council on what the budget might need to look like. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I think also just knowledge of what programs we intend on running there
um would also be helpful because you know these contracts are all over the place at this point. And then we had the whole mixup of people getting paid and not getting paid on time. So and then those were pulled from various lines, right?
one. Yeah, those they will be 132 is a line that contracted vendors will be paid for under. >> And then you had the events, not you, but the budget was showing events, but that was such a low amount for events.
And I know the seniors typically have one celebration per at least one per month. Um, and it was it looked like it was $8,000 that was allocated for events and it was listed one
>> and was it four events event July? >> So, I'm concerned about that 8,000 because um even though only 9,000 was spent last year, if you look at the
historical years, a bit more was spent. And when Miss Foster was running those events, she leveraged a lot of her relationships and bartering and resources that whoever stepping into that role may h they may or may not have um those relationships to to pull on
like that. So, I don't know if $8,000 to do 12 events. >> I mean, I just don't know. And they normally fill the space. So, it's like 200 people that come. They can always have food, some sort of entertainment, decor if that's the direction of, you
know, what's going to be happening in senior services. I don't know if that's what they're doing. >> I will get clarification for you on that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. There's um one note I do want to I have a note here, Mr. Harris, for
line 115 >> program supplies to increase that to,500. So, I just want to get the the number for you on the record and then when we get clarity on the program,
I'll send it. Okay. Yeah, I think the programming is the biggest part in this one. Okay. Any other questions for senior services? All right. Let's move on to finance.
Mystics, just a question. Um, what is line 011? The title is cut off in my >> um >> Oh, okay. Mystics. Um, for audit services miscellaneous, is that the money that goes to the vendor? I'm just trying to
understand where it has um 0000299 on page 25 and it has control total, extended total, department total. >> Oh. So for control total we have what's
the amount 160 >> control total for 25 says 88,000 I'm on page 25 in the middle of the page 13500299 Okay. So, what's the question again?
>> Oh, the control. Okay. So, the control total right there means the total amount that was paid just for that um budget line. For example, the one you're looking at right now, the auditing services. Yes.
>> Okay. >> And this year with the new contract is like 925. Council Min. Can I have the line? >> The major major difference. >> Yeah.
>> Oh, if you look at the credit card, it's actually the 150 line 1300 5. >> We actually spend 28 and we requesting 30. 28 285
>> the allocation was 1700 >> because of the increase in the >> uh 601 130 3150 >> 13 >> Do you have the page number mistakes I know we're not accepting credit card
for tax and things like that. So the credit card is uh port they use that. Yeah. And then um every other payment except tax >> you know actually we're looking into it
this year to find another I had a million. >> Yeah. A million just before anybody. So let's say for example if you go online to make your tax payment >> yeah the the fee is actually but the fee
goes to the user >> right >> who you know I would say takes on the fee >> I think that >> yeah and not us but what we have let's say if you swap you come to the window
and swap a credit card and that's why we're not using taxes because it's You swap the credit swap your credit card. You have your credit card fees and then the vendor charges all for every W. looking
into another one because it's high and most of them most of the vendors the credit card um vendor are high because of the last >> um it depends on the usage but it runs between.15
to almost 34%. >> Yes. looking. >> Oh, that's a month. They got to bring check or money order. >> Yeah, that's all. >> D, can you talk more about the tax collection training? Um,
looks like a increase. Well, it's about doubled or additional. >> We have another certified tax collector on board. >> So, we have to train >> to maintain their CUS. Y
before you You can Um the municipal tax assessor under tax assessment isn't um so we he also works in other municip
probably like not just here. So why are we the ones that pay his awards and dues 021? It's not a lot, but I'm just curious. >> Mistakes or
>> Miss Car >> 021. Is that it? >> 021. Um, that might go for the other employee in the tax assessor office. The >> Oh, okay. The deputy. All right. >> Yeah. Clarification.
And then what's in the um tax assessment contractual? It's 132. We only spent about half the line item last time. >> We only spent about half of the allocation last year. Okay.
Mhm. So, Miss Digs, I know throughout the year we have transfers that are done based on different external factors sometimes that impact the town, but sometimes it's things that we're doing um internally. And so I'm my I'm curious
to know what are we doing in 2026 so that once the council say approves um a contract or approves we had the issue of the street signs or whatever the thing is that we're approving and the funds are certified. What are we doing to make
sure that the monies are actually set aside for use when the department direct the directors are ready to actually use the funds because we had a few times this year where the funds were certified. they were available at the time and then when the directors were ready to make purchases their funds were
no longer there. So, so I just want to know how what are we doing? >> Um, so this is the process. you might walk in today or make a phone call or send an email say hey I want to do a resolution um using ABC funds right
>> okay >> so I would look and say yes the funds are certified you have maybe 5,000 in there you want to use $3,000 so the funds are not encumbered because you requested on the funds are only
encumbered when you have a resolution that's been approved by council and encumbered the funds So if you just walk in here and say, "Hey, I need to do um especially it for in with capital and
lot of um building um expenses. So if you don't have that resolution to encumber the funds and other departments especially for capital is using that same line you know so someone else comes
in and say oh I need to make this purchase let's say and order them within the same category and that person has the resolution prior to you having a resolution the fonts is the funds are pulled from that line you number for
that other department. It's not sitting there waiting on your specific department. Let's say for example, if you go to a specific department, let's say building grounds, you have a contractual amount of $50,000 and you and that 50,000
includes different number of contracts in there and you come and say, "Oh, I'm looking to do a resolution or you know that will cost me to do something that will cost maybe $1,500. I look in the line along with you
saying, "Hey, you have 50 in there." So, you want to use 1,500. Brilliant. You have that 1,500 available. >> However, I cannot go in there and encumber the funds because you said you
need 1500 without a resolution. So, now you have you think that you have 1500. There's no resolution. time convers it it wasn't by the time both of us didn't look at it but they say someone from your department that
you know no communication and said hey put a resolution in for 2500 that resolution went through council approved I encumbered the funds now two months or two weeks later you come back and oh you know that thing I told you
about it you have a resolution I could I cannot under no circumstance convert Just because you said you need 1500. >> Yes. No, I understand that process. I'm referring to once the council has
approve, we have voted on a resolution and it says in the resolution that the funds are certified and then when the department director goes to use the funds, it's not there. >> It's there once they have an approved resolution.
>> Okay. We've had instances. Okay. Well, we've had instances where they were not available. That's why I'm asking the question to understand because perhaps there's a lag or something between once we approve the resolution and when the
funds are encumbered. I mean, I don't know how it all works together. So that's why my question is what are we doing for 20 26 to make sure that once the council approves a resolution it says that the funds are certified the funds then are encumbered so the
departments can spend their money. So what happen what's happening and what always have happening once like yesterday we had a meeting we had for three resolutions in there next day at 9:05 according encumbered those points
for those um resolutions and according to the account number that you know they use on it's encumbered the next morning on a Wednesday morning. So it's no longer available. It's only available for that particular resolution
for that house. >> If that's what we're doing going forward, then that would be then okay, my question is to answer. But I I'm bringing it up because there were issues in 25. That's the only reason I'm bringing it up because >> I'm bringing it up because because it was an issue.
>> But I'm glad to know that going forward. We we're we're all aligned at today's budget meeting. We're all understanding um how that works. >> I really on I can't really remember the instance where you know >> yeah street sign >> for DPW
>> okay street signs for WPW so you have there was no resolution we're looking to put a resolution together the same thing and street signs you have street signs and maybe you have fencing all in that capital line that's capital you have in
that capital line walking here you have 5,000 that's allocated the that they and you have a resolution for at the time you got 5,000 you have a resolution that you say oh um the fence we don't
want a resolution going to cost 3500 resolution approve next day fund encumber you come and say oh two days ago you told me I have 5,000 yeah you have 5,000 but then they going towards the street sign you don't have a resolution yet so
the front that and I think that that's the issue because >> sorry >> no please proceed please proceed >> so it's never for me being an instance where the funds there was an approved resolution and then the next the funds are not available
>> so I think that gap in time so when if we talk about the street signs um before going forward with a project of that magnitude DPW did a presentation to the council first to share this is the initiative these are the signs what they would look like is this something
you all even want to do this year? like it was a discussion and after that discussion we said yes we do want to proceed and the question was that well do we have the do you have the money in your budget to do that he said yes the money is in the budget he had already talked to you about it prior to doing
the presentation so there was something happened >> I we don't count we don't handle the finance but I just wanted to bring it up to make sure we iron out a process so that going forward department directors aren't under the impression that they're proceeding with a project or an
initiative and then they can't because something's going on where the finances aren't there but they thought they were. That's why I was just trying to clear it up so that we're all on the same page. But you're saying we approve the resolution the next the next day at 9:05 a.m.
>> you encumber the funds. >> Okay. >> Y have a resolution. Don't just assume that I understand available for you. Do you right? Got it. Thank you for the clarification. All right. No, no, no.
Any other questions about that yet? Okay. Thank you, Miss Digs. Um, and what's the last one we're doing today? We're done. All right. Well, thank you all for answering the
questions. we may have more uh changes. So, we'll let you know, mig of any other changes. Um and just change it to me as soon as possible forward any question. >> You're saying anything in addition to
today any Oh, okay. Yeah, I >> cuz there may have been some from yesterday that we didn't say on the record. We just asked questions yesterday. We wouldn't really didn't articulate any changes. All right. And then we have one more budget work session tomorrow at 4 PM.
We'll go through the last of our um departments and uh I think that's all. All right. All right. Um Madame Clerk, uh can I have a motion for adjournment? >> So moved. >> Moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy, seconded
by Councilman Anderson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right. Thank you. The time is now 5:15 and the township 2026 budget work sessions have now been adjourned.