Fiscal vigilance top priority for Liberty trustee and school board candidates

LIBERTY

Fiscal vigilance ranks at the top of agendas of candidates running for both school board and trustee positions in Liberty Township.

The state placed the township in a state of fiscal caution in October 2013 and announced a continuation of that designation in July. State audits going back to 2010 identify problems, including a $3,000 overpayment of the township’s law director and the improper transfer of $246,692 from the fire- and police-district funds in an attempt to balance the general budget.

Liberty Schools District regained fiscal control in 2014 after battling its way back from a state of fiscal emergency designated by the state auditor in 2011. In order to balance its budget after the 2011 designation, the district saved $1.8 million annually by eliminating 36 jobs, cutting $136,000 annually after reducing salaries for four positions, joining an insurance consortium to cut costs by $1.2 million annually, saving $74,000 annually with a service agreement for the treasurer and assistant treasurer and cutting $60,000 in various supplemental programs, according to the auditor.

Four candidates – one incumbent and three newcomers – will square off for one trustee seat.

Three will compete for two school board positions.

Read the candidate profiles in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.