Hamilton Township adopts 2024 budget with $80,160 amendment; animal-shelter staffing adjusted
May 09, 2024 | Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey
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Hamilton Township Council voted on May 7 to adopt the calendar-year 2024 municipal budget after a public hearing and a brief amendment that increased the total to be raised by taxes by $80,160.33.
The clerk read the budget amendment details: anticipated revenues for municipal purposes were increased from $111,985,504.92 to $112,065,665.25 (an amended amount of $80,160.33), and total general revenues and appropriations were adjusted by the same amended amount. Notable line-item changes included an increase in animal-control salary and wages from $745,400 to $750,400 (an amended amount of $5,000) and an increase in other expenses by $75,000. The clerk stated totals for appropriations and general revenues consistent with the $80,160.33 amendment.
During the public hearing, resident Lisa Williams asked whether staffing at the animal shelter had been increased to handle overflow of animals. Staff replied that the introduced budget converts a part-time animal attendant to full time and that an amendment would also add overtime funding to accommodate capacity issues. “We went from a part time attendant to a full time,” staff said; the subsequent amendment increases overtime to allow additional care while the shelter operates over capacity.
Council members praised administration, finance staff and department directors for producing what some described as the leanest budget in recent memory and acknowledged the challenges of inflation and constrained resources. After closing the public hearing, the council moved and approved the budget adoption on roll-call votes recorded by the clerk.
What the vote means: the budget as amended becomes the municipal spending authorization for 2024; the amendment specifically adds modest funding for animal-control staffing and overtime to address an operational need identified during the budget process. No additional, separate ordinance or bond authorization was proposed at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will implement the staffing change (part-time to full-time attendant) and monitor overtime needs for the shelter; council asked that directors and administration continue to report as needed.
The clerk read the budget amendment details: anticipated revenues for municipal purposes were increased from $111,985,504.92 to $112,065,665.25 (an amended amount of $80,160.33), and total general revenues and appropriations were adjusted by the same amended amount. Notable line-item changes included an increase in animal-control salary and wages from $745,400 to $750,400 (an amended amount of $5,000) and an increase in other expenses by $75,000. The clerk stated totals for appropriations and general revenues consistent with the $80,160.33 amendment.
During the public hearing, resident Lisa Williams asked whether staffing at the animal shelter had been increased to handle overflow of animals. Staff replied that the introduced budget converts a part-time animal attendant to full time and that an amendment would also add overtime funding to accommodate capacity issues. “We went from a part time attendant to a full time,” staff said; the subsequent amendment increases overtime to allow additional care while the shelter operates over capacity.
Council members praised administration, finance staff and department directors for producing what some described as the leanest budget in recent memory and acknowledged the challenges of inflation and constrained resources. After closing the public hearing, the council moved and approved the budget adoption on roll-call votes recorded by the clerk.
What the vote means: the budget as amended becomes the municipal spending authorization for 2024; the amendment specifically adds modest funding for animal-control staffing and overtime to address an operational need identified during the budget process. No additional, separate ordinance or bond authorization was proposed at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will implement the staffing change (part-time to full-time attendant) and monitor overtime needs for the shelter; council asked that directors and administration continue to report as needed.
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