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Ohio auditor’s office representative discusses finances with Liberty trustees
By Sarah Lehr
LIBERTY
A representative from the state auditor’s office recommended to trustees that the township put together a financial-recovery plan by Feb. 3.
Nita Hendryx, local government chief project manager for the Ohio auditor, addressed township trustees at a meeting this week.
Hendryx presented a financial forecast for the township and expressed a desire to work with trustees to “right the ship.” The township has been in a state of fiscal caution since 2013, as designated by the state auditor, and is entering 2016 with a general-fund deficit of about $125,000.
Governments often use the general fund to bolster other funds, but due to the deficit, Liberty Township cannot use general-fund monies to “help out” its strained police and fire district funds, Hendryx noted.
To exit fiscal caution, the township will need to operate in the black for at least three years.
Fiscal caution is less dire than fiscal watch or fiscal emergency. Local representatives maintain control during fiscal caution, unlike fiscal emergency when the state steps in.
Unless trustees increase tax revenue, cut costs or do some combination of both, the deficit will grow, particularly if health care costs increase for township employees, Hendryx warned.
“It’s not rocket science,” she said.
In other business, trustees reappointed Ray Knight and Thomas Anness to five-year terms on the zoning board of appeals. Trustee Jodi Stoyak cast a dissenting vote against reappointing Knight, saying that, based on a recommendation from a zoning board member, she believes someone with architecture or engineering experience should serve on the board. Trustee Stan Nudell defended Knight’s appointment, citing Knight’s realty experience.
Trustees also retained Mark Finamore as law director with a $500 monthly salary with an additional $100 an hour for work in excess of five hours per month.
The board set compensation for Trustee Jodi Stoyak, who was re-elected to her fourth term, at $16,798 a year.
For the term beginning in 2016, the board appointed Stoyak as chairwoman and Jason Rubin as vice chairman.
Additionally, fire Capt. Robert Catchpole took an oath of office as lead inspector and Michael Wright, formerly a part-timer, took an oath as a full-time firefighter and medic. Catchpole will earn $33.55 an hour, and Wright will earn $16.85 an hour.
Law Director Finamore said it was a particular honor to swear in Catchpole, his childhood friend.
“We ran through fields together and got briars,” Finamore said. “We played baseball, football, sled riding, just about everything you can do.”
The next regular trustee meeting is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 8.