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Foley Tightens Reins on Budget Town Board Safeguards Taxpayer Dollars JANUARY 17, 2007, FARMINGVILLE, NY--Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley saluted the Town Board for its unanimous support of new budgetary control measures that will control spending, and improve oversight, care and custody of taxpayer dollars. A new Budgetary Control policy drafted by the Supervisor’s Finance Department and approved unanimously by the Town Board at its re-organizational meeting January 9 greatly increases scrutiny of purchase requisitions and prohibits the past practice of overspending budget lines. The policy also instructs the Finance Department to issue monthly departmental spending reports that will track expenditures and require full explanations of any deviations from planned spending patterns. A new Budget Transfer policy unanimously adopted by the Town Board at the same meeting substantially tightens guidelines for budget transfers. Transfers of less than $5,000 can be okayed by the Finance Department; transfers between $5,000 and $14,999 require written approval from the Supervisor’s office; transfers between $15,000 and $29,999 require Town Board approval, except in emergencies; and transfers over $30,000 require Town Board approval. “We are keeping our promise to tighten the reins on spending to safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said Supervisor Foley. “Residents of the Town of Brookhaven have to know that we are as careful with their tax dollars as they are with their own money. These new budget reforms are the next step in putting the town’s finances on the road to recovery. We will continue to take steps to control spending and make sure residents get the most value for their tax dollars.” “When this new administration took office, we promised to reform the way Brookhaven Town does business, and we vowed to protect taxpayer dollars,” said Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld. “We began delivering on that promise by saving millions when we ended no-bid insurance contracts, and we continued when we drew up a 2007 budget that is honest, open and realistic, accurately predicting revenues and costs, which had not been done in the past. “The adoption of these tough new fiscal controls represents the continuation of our reform effort, and our effort to protect taxpayer dollars.” Office of the Supervisor One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677
Posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 (Archive on Saturday, March 17, 2007)
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