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Boardman trustees contemplate November levy
By DENISE DICK
Within the next few weeks, township trustees expect to decide whether to place a levy on the November ballot.
Decisions on the type of levy and its millage also would need to be determined.
“Every department has less people than before, but demand for services is more than ever before,” said Trustee Thomas Costello. “We might have to go to the public and ask for more support from them.”
That was some of the discussion among township officials Wednesday, the first day of a strategic-planning retreat at the Holiday Inn, South Avenue.
The township expects to finish this year in the black. William Leicht, fiscal officer, said the township received about $502,500 so far this year from estate taxes, money from the estates of residents who die.
A second payment is expected later this year.
Leicht said the township received $920,700 in estate taxes in 2009.
Last March, trustees passed the final 2010 appropriations totaling $16,510,785, with revenue projected at about $16,928,000.
“We’re right on target,” Leicht said.
Still, the financial difficulties haven’t been abated entirely. Trustees learned recently of a roughly $280,000 increase in the cost of employee health care.
A committee comprising union employee and administration representatives is meeting and expected to make recommendations regarding ways to reduce health-care costs.