Weathersfield prepares for cuts

July 14, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

MINERAL RIDGE

Weathersfield Township is preparing for additional cuts in its budget for 2012, clerk Fred Bobovnyk said, as it anticipates further state-funding reductions.

Cuts are being made to local-government funds, tangible personal-property tax and public-utilities taxes under the new state budget, all of which will gradually eat away at income sources for the township

The final amended budget for 2011 approved Tuesday by trustees could be amended again before the end of the year. The total revenues for 2011 amount to $5.234 million. Appropriations came to $5.168 million.

These figures, despite cuts in funding, are inflated because they include $1.776 million in state or federal grant funds, including the $581,786 Ohio Public Works County Line Road repaving project, the $495,000 federal grant for a new radio tower and equipment for the township, Niles and McDonald.

These amounts have to be shown on the township budgets for 2011 either all or in part and will be reimbursed by the agency giving the grant.

The calendar-year budget for 2012 is expected to have revenues of $3.965 million and appropriations of $3.965 million.

Bobovnyk explained that the township is losing money from three sources, all governed by the state: roughly $46,000 in local government funds lost in 2011, reducing that income from $157,000 to $111,000; 2 percent of tangible personal-property tax, which is now $270,593 to be cut by $33,963; and public- utilities tax, normally reimbursed to the township by the state, which comes to $146,730 and is to be cut by 2 percent or $33,900.

In other business, Trustee James Stoddard said he’s been in contact with Todd Hawkins, district manager of the U.S. Postal Service. The post office on state Route 46 in the township was closed at the end of March, and all services were moved to the Niles Post Office, 43 W. Park Ave.

At this time, Hawkins told trustees in a letter, “due to our worsening financial straits, no alternative- quarters projects are currently being approved.”

Stoddard said the trustees are pursuing the matter, noting that the post office has something called a contract postal unit, in which a private citizen can sell stamps. He has been in touch with Harry Myers, the district marketing manager for Northern Ohio for the Postal Service to learn what is required to have a CPU in the township.

Stoddard said trustees also were informed that due to low volume, the post office is not going to be placing additional collection boxes in the area.