By Heather Niccoli, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR The Township Council has begun preliminary discussions on the 2012 budget.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Chief Financial Officer Joanne Louth told the board that there would be a reduction in the amount the township would have to contribute to the state employee and police and firefighter retirement system this year.
She said the reduction would be $178,544, “the first time probably in history that the pension item has been reduced.”
The council wanted to get an early start in looking at next year’s budget.
”Normally we do not get into it until some time next year,” said Kamal Khanna, council president.
At the meeting, Diane Ciccone, council vice president, asked Ms. Louth why the pension decreased.
She said it was because of reforms brought about by Gov. Chris Christie and the Legislature that were signed into law in June.
She said the township’s liability was re-calculated effective this month.
As the meeting went on Mr. Khanna said he would like to have a comparative analysis of different departments of West Windsor to neighboring municipalities.
