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Wayne Township Budget Vote Sept 11
(posted August 17)
No one protested the proposed $22,500,000 Wayne Township Fire 2009 budget
at the August 14 public hearing. The proposed budget is a 10% increase
from the 2008 budget of $18,500,000. Wayne Township Board member Lisa Bentley
commended the fire department for trimming $380,581 from operating expenses.
The fire budget includes hiring six new firefighters in April, plus giving
three promotions, so the department can have a float officer for each shift.
The new firefighters should reduce the overtime budget.
Bentley said the average payroll for the fire department is $400,000 per
pay period. She said there should be a $765,000 cash balance at the end
of 2008. She wanted to fund the increases for the fire contract and new
firefighters from the excess funds to reduce the cost to taxpayers.
CPA Curt Coonrod warned the board not to lower the levy and use the excess
funds because of House Enrolled Act 1001 and future tax caps. He said the
tax reform bill will create a revenue reduction of $3,000,000 by 2010.
Once the levy is lowered, it cannot be raised back to its full amount The
total proposed township budget is $30,850,000.The township board also needs
to repay $3.5 million that it borrowed in 2007.
Small Claims Court Judge Maxine King requested the board shift money from
different line items in her budget so she could split an additional $3,000
raise between two of her employees, in addition the four percent raise
for all non-firefighting township employees. Bentley struggled with her
request because she thought there were other township employees just as
deserving of more pay.
Assistant Trustee Lynn McWhirter explained that if pay raises are given
by shifting the line items it will increase beyond the $3,000 due to retirement
and social security cost to the township that have not been budgeted for.
Board member Earl Salisbury was concerned about the drop in court cases
because it generates revenue for the township. He was concerned the employees
had less to work to do. King said they deserve a pay raise because they
are exemplary employees in the quality of work they generate.
The board tabled King's request until September 11, along with the budget
vote.
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