Washington Township Hopes to Keep Sandy Costs in 2012 Budget

Washington Township officials are hoping to keep the costs of Hurricane Sandy out of the 2013 budget.

"Most of the towns around us had to do emergency spending ... which goes into next year's [budget]," Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said at a council meeting. "We didn't have to do that."

The council voted 4-1 at their last meeting to approve a list of transfers totalling $83,050, including $30,000 pulled from the police dispatching line item and moved it to the department of recycling, which collected debris after the storm.

Township Administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel said officials estimated the $30,000 would be enough, but they have until next March to make other transfers if necessary.

Officials praised the work of the township's employees and volunteers during the storm and its aftermath. The police department fielded more than 250 storm-related calls, according to Sobkowicz.

"Everybody pulled together during the storm," Council Vice President Joseph D'Urso said.

Other budget transfers approved at the meeting included money a shift of $21,000 to the department of municipal facilities for vehicle equipment repairs and a $15,000 shift for the department's generator, though those were not specifically hurrcane-related.

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