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Boardman trustees to present budget
BOARDMAN
Township officials say if residents want to know how their tax dollars are being spent, down to the penny, they should attend an April 9 meeting that will present the final 2012 budget and five-year Boardman plan.
The meeting begins at 4:45 p.m. at the township government center, 8299 Market St., and will be followed by the trustees’ regular meeting.
“We have [the budget] tightened. There’s no fluff in there. The way we have [the database] set up so we can monitor it and provide real-time analysis,” said Fiscal Officer William D. Leicht.
The 2012 township is about $16.4 million, smaller than last year’s $17.1 million. Officials, however, had said the 2011 budget was boosted by adding $750,000 from federal grants and the Law Enforcement Trust to pay for its share of a radio-dispatch project with Austintown.
Appropriations, which are not the budgets for each department, were approved Monday.
The fire department was appropriated $4.25 million generated by the 2008 safety-service levy. The road department was appropriated $2.18 million from the road and bridge fund.
Both fire and road departments are expected to receive some general fund money to complete their budgets.
The police department was appropriated $2.03 million generated by the police district, $3.2 million generated by the 2011 additional police levy, $1.73 million from the 2008 safety-service levy, $200,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund and $21,000 from Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) fund.
All of the police appropriations total about $7.18 million.
Three police officers have been sworn in since the levy’s approval, bringing the number of sworn officers to 51, including the chief. The civil service test was offered this month and trustees expect to hire additional officers this summer using the new civil service list.
“The five-year plan forecasts the police department [growth]. When we have the full compliment of additional staff” the appropriations will reflect that, Loree said.
Leicht said the five-year plan includes announced cuts from the state, such as estate tax elimination. Boardman used to budget between $750,000 to $1 million in estate tax revenue.
“The misconception ... is that all this [2011] police levy money frees up additional general fund money. But we’re losing money from other sources,” Leicht said.
Leicht and Loree said the five-year plan does account for currently bargained step-wage increases over time, but not funding for raises.
“As things go now, Boardman is in good position for the next five years,” Loree said.