TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT Boardman officials assemble, discuss strategies for the future

The township might ask for a levy next year.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Township finances are the No. 1 issue on Boardman residents' minds, according to a survey distributed to officials, employees and residents.
Trustees and department heads met Thursday evening for a retreat at the Youngstown Club to review some of the survey results and begin hashing out strategic plans for the township over the next two years. Township officials had the survey done recently.
The retreat continues today.
William D. Leicht, township clerk, said this marks the third such planning retreat for the township. They're conducted every two years, he said.
An outline of a strategic plan will be developed at the two-day meeting and it will be "massaged" during the summer and implemented in the third or fourth quarter of the year, the clerk said.
"Everyone agrees that finances are the No. 1 issue in our township this year," Leicht said.
Other issues
Flooding, crime, traffic and tougher zoning round out the top five issues identified by survey respondents.
The township is spending more than it's taking in, Leicht said.
The last time the township asked residents to pass a levy was in 1995.
"I'm making a general assumption that there is going to be a levy campaign," Leicht said. "We can't cut $2.5 million out of our budget and provide the same services."
He expects a levy in 2006, which would begin generating money in 2007.
"I think if we lay it out, people are going to come to our aid," the clerk said. "They understand what they're getting in Boardman."
If the township does nothing to address the money issue it will be $1.8 million in the hole by 2008, he said.
Trustee Kathy Miller said residents might question why the township is waiting a year to address its money woes.
Trustee Tom Costello said the township has addressed it.
"We put a hiring freeze in place last year," he said. "We asked department heads to cut spending. If we did nothing we'd be talking about 2006" for the township to be in a deficit.
Today's sessions will include representatives of employee unions.