Joanne on Budgeting: Claims vs. Financial Reality
In a September 4th post on Conesville Matters, Joanne Noone criticized the Town’s budgeting practices, describing them as “lazy” and suggesting that the current administration does not prepare budgets based on financial reality.
She questioned why the Supervisor’s budget statement had only been approved through June, despite it being September, and emphasized the importance of monitoring cash flow, tracking expenditures, and avoiding a liquidity crisis.
While these are valid financial considerations, they are also fundamental principles of municipal budgeting.
How the Town Budgeting Process Actually Works
Joanne is stating what should already be obvious to anyone responsible for preparing a budget.
Municipal budgets are developed by forecasting annual expenses and revenues using historical financial data, known cost increases, and reasonable estimates for expenses that cannot be predicted precisely.
Year-to-date budget reports can be generated at any point during the year. Tracking income, expenditures, and available cash is a standard part of financial management, not a new budgeting strategy.
The standard budgeting process requires department heads to submit their proposed budgets to the Town Supervisor. These departmental requests are incorporated into the overall Town budget, after which a review and negotiation process begins.
The objective is to work together, evaluate spending priorities, account for anticipated revenues, and ultimately produce a balanced budget.
The Town of Conesville has successfully balanced its budget year after year.
Conesville’s Record of Financial Stability
The Town of Conesville has maintained a “No Designation” status under the New York State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System.
This designation indicates that the Town has not met the State’s established thresholds for fiscal stress.
Conesville’s internal financial practices have remained exceptionally stable for more than a decade.
At the same time, external financial pressures driven by regional economic conditions outside the Town Board’s direct control have gradually intensified over the past 12 years.
Despite these challenges, Conesville has remained financially stable.
Conesville Compared With Other Municipalities
Within Schoharie County, Conesville stands out as one of the region’s more financially stable municipalities.
Southern Schoharie County towns such as Conesville and Gilboa have demonstrated relatively low fiscal risk, maintaining stable year-end fund balances and rarely relying on short-term borrowing to cover seasonal highway operations or municipal payroll.
These financial practices are particularly important for small rural municipalities, where limited tax bases and rising operating costs can place significant pressure on annual budgets.
The Record Matters
There is nothing wrong with calling for responsible budgeting, accurate financial reporting, and careful oversight of taxpayer dollars. Those should be priorities for every municipal administration.
However, describing the Town’s existing budgeting practices as “lazy” does not, by itself, establish that those practices are ineffective or financially irresponsible.
The more meaningful question is whether the Town has demonstrated financial stability and responsible management over time.
The New York State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System provides an independent resource for evaluating that record.
Source: New York State Comptroller — Fiscal Stress Monitoring System