BLANCHESTER — Next year’s budget may be approved sooner than previous years.
Blanchester Village Council gave the first reading to an ordinance for the village’s 2019 budget at Thursday’s meeting.
Council member Cindy Sutton said when the finance committee members met with individual department heads and reviewed their budgets, Village Fiscal Officer Jewelie Casteel drafted the 2019 budget.
“I hope we can proceed quickly,” said Sutton, adding she hopes the other members have had time to review it and get questions answered.
Mayor John Carman said each department head was happy with the budget.
“I think this could be record timing,” said Carman. “Usually we do a temporary budget.”
Council member Reilly Hopkins complimented Ron Johnson of the Blanchester Park Board for his input on that department’s budget.
“I like how (the Park Board) have set for yourself a reasonable goal and need,” said Hopkins.
Casteel thanked all the council members and department heads for getting involved and helping get the budget draft prepared.
If approved after the third reading at council’s Nov. 8 meeting, the 2019 budget would be passed much quicker than this year’s budget, which was approved Feb. 22, and their 2017 budget, approved at their Feb. 23 meeting.
The draft of the 2019 budget is set at $13,220,249.14, which is $103,357.44 lower than last year’s. Among the draft includes a $44,606.51 increase for the police department.
The second reading is set for the Oct. 25 council meeting.
Also during the meeting:
• Tami Gregory and Lisa Haynes of Blanchester’s Hope Warriors spoke at the meeting about what the organization does, and they hope to get support from the community in their efforts in helping drug addicts overcome their addictions.
Mayor Carman and council members Hopkins and Don Gephart complimented them on the work they are doing.
