At its meeting on this coming Monday, May 16, the Verona Town Council will vote on the 2016 budget. This year’s development and introduction of the town budget provided a great contrast between the new approach the Council and town management use in putting the budget together versus the old method under the former town manager and council. Developing this year’s budget, Councilman Alex Roman initially called for drastic budget cuts, backed by Deputy Mayor Michael Nochimson and Mayor Kevin Ryan. After department head presentations and thorough discussion at several budget workshop meetings, the new town manager, Matthew Cavallo, and the CFO, Matthew Laracy, were directed by the Council to introduce the formal budget at the April 18 meeting which incorporated the changes voted upon at the March 31 workshop. Today in Verona, as it should be, the town manager takes direction from the Town Council.
Thank you Kevin Ryan, Michael Nochimson and Alex Roman for constantly speaking for the taxpayer. Along with the new CFO and town manager they are doing everything they legally can do to end the overspending that existed for years under the former town manager and his Council majority. The waste uncovered since the summer is astonishing as our budget became bloated with some very high salaries and overtime and the use of capital monies (loans) to pay operating expenses. It would be like running our households on a credit card, spending beyond our means. All this came out of the wallets of us taxpayers. Â
With no apologies, there have been occasional attempts by some to explain or defend the past. However, as repeated often at this year’s council meetings, the “old way” of spending our tax dollars is done, the “gravy train” has stopped. Thanks to the outcome of last May’s election and the departure of the former Town Manager.
Finally, under the direction of this new Council, the new town manager, Matthew Cavallo, is committed to changing and monitoring operations in Verona and this upcoming budget year should reveal big changes in the way things are done in Verona. Further, the CFO, Matthew Laracy, is revamping the entire financial operation so that every dollar spent has approval and is tracked. In other words, every attempt is being made to make sure our tax money is spent wisely, while maintaining the great level of services of Verona. It will take time and as long as we have responsible, qualified and worthy people running the township we should continue in the right direction. Keep that in mind as another municipal election comes up in a year. We can never go back to the old ways. The positive changes in Verona’s government could happen at every level of government if we taxpayers and voters demand it.
Mary Bovich
Verona
