Thursday, December 31, 2015
By AMANDA TONOLI
CANFIELD
Canfield Township’s road department is expected to suffer the most from the loss of estate tax for 2016, said Trustee Marie Cartwright.
State legislation stopped estate-tax revenue from going to city and township funds, substantially reducing money to appropriate for new budgets. Fiscal Officer Carmen Heasley said estate taxes usually brought anywhere from $250,000 to $800,000 in revenue, so the township’s general fund could suffer that loss next year.
The Starr Centre/Old Tippecanoe Road and Storm Rehab Project, a joint project with Mahoning County that replaces storm-sewer components and repaves the road, is taking up most of the township’s road finances, putting other projects on hold.
One of those projects is the Gibson Road repair.
Cartwright said the estate-tax revenue cut would mean slim chances the two projects could go forward at the same time next year.
The Starr Centre Road project cost is $348,567, with $149,117 coming from a state grant, $132,435 split between the township and county, and a $66,995 loan.
Estimates on the Gibson Road project haven’t been sought because finding funds is difficult because the street isn’t as highly trafficked, township officials said.
Trustee Brian Governor suggested finding a grant-writing team closer to the end of 2016 to start the application process to find funds for Gibson Road.
In other business, trustees passed a temporary budget resolution for 2016 at the four-hour plus meeting Wednesday afternoon.
The temporary budget will be a little more than $3.3 million for the first three months of the year. A full-year budget must be passed by March 31.
The township’s total 2016 revenue estimate is a little more than $6.5 million.
Although not all townships perform extensive line-by-line workshops for temporary budgets, Cartwright said she likes to get together with the other trustees to discuss funding.
“It’s important for all to understand the budget and where the money is going,” Cartwright said.
Heasley agreed, saying it was important to make adjustments throughout the discussion session to fit the needs of the township with input from trustees.
“We can’t make the money come back to the general fund once it’s gone,” Heasley said.
Another item discussed was how members of the zoning appeals board are to be paid.
There was much confusion as to whether members were to be paid by the meeting, hearing or voting at a $30 rate.
For the next meeting, on Jan. 12, Heasley is preparing a presentation of specific zoning appeals board pay rules and rates to set a standard to end the confusion.