NORWICH – In order to make the budget process a more orderly and scheduled activity, City of Norwich Finance Director William Roberts distributed a timeline listing important dates during the upcoming budget season.

The city officially began its budget process this week with discussion of the 2008 expenditures and the budget parameters for 2009. Roberts told members of the City Finance/Personnel Committee, that to date, next year’s budget “is looking fine.” He explained that the city has cut overtime costs at the fire department and police department, instead spending slightly more on regular time hours. Expenditures, Roberts said, “are looking OK.”

“On the revenue side, we’re doing quite well,” Roberts said. Sales tax and ambulance recovery rates look favorable, but Roberts said there is no real reliable indication of how sales tax will come out until after the holiday season.

According to the schedule, department heads should have their budgets submitted by Aug. 15. Roberts plans to have a draft of the tentative budget available for the Finance Committee and the rest of the council members to review at the September meeting of the Finance/Personnel Committee.