Staff prepares for Autumn Festival, budget season
Oct. 1 festival to be followed by series of budget meetings
With October only a few days away, Montgomery Township is getting ready for two fall traditions: the annual township Autumn Festival, and the start of budget season.
“We’re all busy preparing for the budget and the Autumn Fest,” said Township Manager Larry Gregan.
On Monday staff announced the schedule of budget meetings planned for the next several weeks. Each year the township holds several budget workshops to discuss specific departments’ expenses from the previous year and goals for the coming year, and this year’s dates have now been set.
Staff will host budget workshops on Oct. 18, 19, and 26, and Nov. 1 and 2, all starting at 6:30 p.m. and projected to last roughly two hours. Each budget meeting will discuss one or two township departments, with the Oct. 19 meeting scheduled to talk about the township Sewer Authority and other topics not finalized.
After the four workshops, the township supervisors will consider preliminary adoption of the 2017 budget when they meet on Nov. 14, and after a vote that night, the budget would be on display for public view and comment for the next 20 days, with final adoption to be considered on Dec. 12. Both of those regularly scheduled board meetings will be held at 8 p.m., and those and the workshops will all be held at the township administration building, 1001 Stump Road.
Between now and then, Montgomery Township will host its 16th annual Autumn Festival, scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. at William F. Maule Park at Windlestrae. Throughout the day, police and fire units — including the police department’s canine unit — will demonstrate their equipment and skills, and over 60 vendors representing crafters, artists, local businesses and service groups will be on display in the park, until a fireworks show ends the day at 7:45 p.m.
The festivities were rained out last year, Gregan said, but this year an alternative schedule has been developed to move events indoors, into the township’s community and recreation center, if poor weather strikes.
“The fact that we have a rain date is different — we’ve never been able to do that before,” Gregan said.
As of Sept. 20 local businesses and organizations had donated $8,350 to support the event, and Montgomery’s supervisors approved their an annual contribution of $7,000 to that dedicated event fund. Wristbands for the Autumn Fest are currently on sale at the Rec Center for $12 each or three for $30, and will be $15 on the day of the event; single tickets are $1 each and provide access to amusement rides, games, scarecrow making, rides on a zip line, and more.
Each budget meeting will discuss one or two township departments, with the Oct. 19 meeting scheduled to talk about the township Sewer Authority and other topics not finalized.