WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP Trustees were expecting tax payment from RMI

Township officials were told last year the tax payments would be late.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- One Weathersfield Township trustee says last week's receipt of tax checks was not a surprise.
The township announced last week it had received about $450,000 in tax income checks from personal property taxes assessed to RMI Titanium Inc. in October 2003. The company paid the taxes late, however, which is why the township did not receive the payments until now.
"It was presented like we walked outside and $450,000 flew at us from under the awning," Trustee John Vogel said. "That's just not the case."
What happened
Vogel said when township officials learned last fall they were not receiving the taxes from RMI, trustees agreed to cover the shortfall in the budget. From the $1.2 million carry-over the township had in the general fund, he said, officials drew down $450,000 to cover the loss.
Last year, township officials were unsure whether they would ever receive the taxes at all. Township clerk David Rouhan had received the disbursements early last week, and several township officials checked with the Trumbull County Auditor's office to ensure it was no mistake.
Taxes paid by RMI had already been reduced after company officials learned personal property taxes on RMI's inventory had been overpaid in previous years.
The reduction in taxes paid by RMI meant a reduction in income for the township, which collects on a portion of those taxes.
Concessions
To save funds elsewhere and make up some of the difference, Vogel said, officials asked for and received concessions from township unions, including the police department.
It was, he said, a case of officials "taking money from the future and plugging the hole we have now."
But since officials were not sure the money would come at all this year, trustees plan to review the situation to determine how the township and affected departments will benefit from the unexpected revenue.
slshaulis@vindy.com