The Town of Bethlehem’s fiscal year is from January 1st to December 31st.  The budget (see below) is the official spending plan for all town departments, and it identifies the sources of funding to support the operating plan.  The Town Supervisor and the Town Board receive public input on town services and spending requests throughout the year.  These requests may be considered during the budget preparation process.

Town Departments begin to prepare spending requests and revenue estimates in late spring and early summer, in order to submit them to the Budget Officer for compilation into the comprehensive budget document.  The budget preparation timeline is established by statute, as follows:

Between the months of August and September, the Town Board may host budget workshops in which they have the opportunity to meet with the departments and seek further information on the budget requests as presented.  The workshops are open meetings, and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Budget Officer must present the tentative budget to the Town Clerk no later than September 30th, and to the Town Board on or before October 5th.  The Town’s Budget Officer is the Town Comptroller.  The tentative budget is presented at the regularly scheduled, second board meeting in September.

After the budget presentation, a copy of the budget overview and summary information is then made available on the Town’s web site (see below.)  A paper copy of the budget document is kept on file at the Town Clerk’s office for public review, and at the reference desk at the Bethlehem Public Library.

A public hearing is held on or before the Thursday immediately preceding the general election, which has historically been conducted at the second board meeting in October.

After consideration of public comment, and after the Town Board’s review process, a formal vote is taken to consider adoption of the budget, which must occur before November 20th.  The Town Board generally votes on the budget at the first board meeting in November.   Upon approval of the budget, the tax rates are established, and the budget becomes the spending plan for the upcoming calendar year.

For additional information on the budget process, the Office of the State Comptroller provides a publication entitled “Understanding the Budget Process” available under the local government section of the OSC website:  http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/listacctg.htm#budget

2013 FINAL BUDGET

View 2013 Final Revenue Budget

View 2013 Final Appropriations Budget

View 2013 Final Detail Appropriations Budget

All Other 2013 Budget Documents

2012 FINAL BUDGET

View 2012 Preliminary Budget Highlights from the October 26, 2011 Town Board Meeting

Notice of 2012 Preliminary Budget Public Hearing

View 2012 Tentative Budget presentation from the September 28, 2011 Town Board Meeting

View 2012 Final Revenue Budget

View 2012 Final Summary Appropriations Budget

View 2012 Final Line Item Appropriations Budget

2012 Capital Program Budget

2011 FINAL BUDGET

View 2011 Preliminary Budget Highlights from the November 10, 2010 Town Board Meeting

Notice of 2011 Preliminary Budget Public Hearing

View 2011 Tentative Budget presentation from the September 22, 2010 Town Board Meeting

2011 Exemption Report as required under Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law

View 2011 Final Appropriations Budget

View 2011 Final Revenue Budget

2011 Capital Program Budget

2010 FINAL BUDGET

View 2010 Budget presentation from the September 23, 2009 Town Board Meeting

2010 Exemption Report as required under Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law

View Final 2010 Budget Expense Worksheet

View Final 2010 Budget Revenue Worksheet

View Final 2010 Budget Summary

2009 FINAL BUDGET

View 2009 Budget Public Hearing Presentation from October 22, 2008 Town Board Meeting

View 2009 Budget presentation from the September 24, 2008 Town Board Meeting

2009 Exemption Report as required under Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law

View 2009 Final Budget Expense Worksheet

View 2009 Final Budget Revenue Worksheet

View Final 2009 Budget Summary

2008 FINAL BUDGET

View 2008 Budget presentation from the September 26, 2007 Town Board Meeting

View 2008 Final Detail Expense Budget

View 2008 Final Summary Expense Budget

View 2008 Final Detail Revenue Budget

2007 FINAL BUDGET

View 2007 Final Detail Expense Budget

View 2007 Final Summary Expense Budget

View 2007 Final Detail Revenue Budget