Forks Financial Forecast Nears Finish Line

For months now, the Forks Township Board of Supervisors and department heads have put their heads together to try to come up with a financial plan for the township's future.

Well, the finish line is nearing.

Supervisors discussed the financial plan at its recent work session in hopes of having another meeting to get things squared away at 6 p.m. Aug. 27.

At the end of last year, Forks Township officials faced a decision on whether to vote for a tax hike for 2013. Officials opted against that move but decided that it was high time to get the township's finances in order.

Forks has been plagued by several projects that went over budget, including its amphitheater and public works building.

"I think we're really close," Finance Director Jim Farley said.

Supervisor John O'Neil wanted the board to meet with department heads to go over their planning strategies.

"The goal is to get this done before the budget process," Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss said.

Farley said there's still time to do that.

O'Neil hoped to have the plan "ironed out" by September when the budget process starts to kick in.

"It's hard for department heads to go into September where they don't know where we stand," he said.

O'Neil said he wanted department heads, like Police Chief Greg Dorney, to present their financial forecast to the board since they know their departments.

"You make it work," he said. "If not, then we make it work."

Supervisor Bob Egolf believed the board should tell the department heads how much they have to spend and then let them figure it out.

"There's one advantage," Egolf said. "You don't have to go through cutting. The department has the figure based on our finance projection and that's it."