Boardman trustee proposes cost-cutting ideas

BOARDMAN — Stay tuned for more discussion on the township’s sagging revenue.

Township trustees met Sunday afternoon but came to no agreement on its 2008 spending.

Robyn Gallitto, the chairwoman of the trustees, and new trustee Larry Moliterno said they thought they would be discussing the township’s shortfall tonight.

The trustees will meet at 6 p.m.

Trustee Kathy Miller presented five lengthy ideas at the Sunday session. About 100 people, including township workers, attended the session.

The trustees have set a spending plan of $19 million with revenue of $15 million. The township has a $4 million reserve.

About 60 percent of township voters last year rejected a 4.1-mill levy that would have generated about $4 million a year.

Miller’s ideas were based on the premise that the township will not receive any inheritance tax this year. That would reduce the township’s estimated revenue to $14 million.

The tax has brought in about $1.2 million a year. Gallitto said.

“There has never been a year when we have received zero in inheritance tax,” she said.

Still, Gallitto and Moliterno praised Miller’s ideas.

Miller suggested that department heads get a funding allocation and then return spending proposals back to the board.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.