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Liberty Township takes hard look at budget
By Sarah Lehr
LIBERTY
Fiscal concerns loomed large during a special township trustees meeting Monday.
As of Dec. 1, the township has a negative fund balance of $124,595, and it continues to be in a state of fiscal caution as designated by the state auditor.
At the last meeting, two trustees came out in favor of purchasing a Ford police car for about $13,000. Fiscal Officer Steve Shelton, however, said such a purchase would be irresponsible.
Though the police department will have a positive fund balance of $66,868 at the close of this month, Shelton’s projections indicate the department’s fund balance will operate with an $81,401 deficit by the end of January and a $227,865 deficit by the end February.
Though trustees have the authority to vote on such purchases, Shelton said, as fiscal officer, he would refuse to certify the expenditure.
There was some discussion as to how far Shelton’s authority extends to block such a purchase.
Township officials have asked Law Director Mark Finamore to shed light on the issue at the regular meeting Monday.
The township would save $2,500 on the cruiser if it purchases the vehicle before Jan. 1 rather than after, Police Chief Richard Tisone said, which adds some urgency to the consideration.
Projections also indicate the fire department, which will have a positive fund balance of $77,580 at the end of this month, will be in the red by February after taking care of expenses such as payroll and Medicare.
The fire department’s projected fund deficit balance for the close of February is $219,628.
Shelton said the township had a spending problem and proposed deep cuts, such as $20,000 a month from the police and fire departments.
“We have to do things to stop this bleeding,” he said.
Others suggested that it wasn’t solely a spending problem by pointing to tax revenue not collected by county commissioners that would come to the township.
“That’s out of our control,” Shelton said of uncollected tax revenue. “What we have is what we have. ... We can’t operate from a fantasy.”
In other business, trustees voted to pursue buying two parcels from the Trumbull County Land Bank at a cost of $586. The land borders property already owned by the township.
In the long term, the township hopes to expand a park onto the property and to build a central fire station, thereby consolidating the two fire stations into one.
Additionally, trustees moved to authorize $3.9 million in budget appropriations for 2016, based on a recommendation from Shelton.