With past Town budgets not being passed until well into the budget year, Orangeville's treasurer has established a timetable that would see future budgets passed in early January.

The last two budgets, covering 2006 and 2007, were not passed until April and March, respectively, of those years.

"This timing is not conducive to managing Town expenditures in a well controlled fashion, there being a number of months of spending against a budget that has not been approved," wrote Treasurer Wayne Church in a report to council.

The timetable for the 2008 budget process has a target date of late December 2007 for completion, with approval being given in January 2008.

Work would begin on the budget with department reviews during the first two weeks of September. In the last week the operating budget templates would be distributed.

By mid-October all departments will need to have their operating budget proposals to the treasurer, followed by reviews by CAO Rick Schwarzer.

During the first week of November, departments will then give their capital budget to the treasure for consolidation and analysis.

The first draft of the entire budget should be ready by November 16. From Nov. 19 to Dec. 7 meetings will be held for the Citizens' Commission on Finance and the Council meeting as Committee of the Whole to discuss the budget and make recommendations before it is presented to council at the first meeting in January.

Developing economic strategy

Seeking future marketing directions, the Town of Orangeville is sending out a Request for Proposal (RFP) from 10 consultants to develop an economic development strategy plan.

The strategy will establish ways to increase opportunities for growth of existing businesses and the attracting of new ones, which would increase employment opportunities.

The selected consultant is to prepare a strategy that documents and assesses the current economic health of the community; identifies emerging trends, opportunities and challenges, locally and externally; pinpoints sectors and markets with strong opportunities for local success and provide a detailed implementation plan that will enable the Town to take advantage of identified local, regional, national and global opportunities that will attract and retain businesses, create employment, diversify the local economy and broaden the tax base.

The deadline is June 22 at 4 p.m. The winning consultant will be chosen by July 16 with the final report to be presented to council in November.

Proposals will be reviewed by a steering committee consisting of the manager of marketing and special projects, the director of planning, a member of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) and the chair of the EDC.