Austintown trustees approve 2019 budget

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Township trustees have approved $19.8 million in permanent appropriations for this year.

The largest portions of the appropriations are headed to the police department, which is set to receive $6.3 million, and the fire department, $3.7 million.

This is the first year the police department will receive revenues from the increased, 3.2-mill police levy voters approved in the November election, which is estimated at $900,000, said township Administrator Michael Dockry.

Trustees set aside $510,000 to retire a tax-anticipated note to boost the township’s cash flow through the first half of 2019. The note is set to be repaid by Aug. 22, but Dockry expects it will be retired once the township receives all first-half property taxes collections in spring.

Elsewhere in the budget, $1.8 million is for road and bridge work; $550,000 is for permanent improvements; and $1.2 million is for communications. Remaining in the general fund will be $2.76 million.

Trustees also approved the purchase of a 2020 International truck from Cerni Motor Sales Inc. of Youngstown for $80,622 and snowplow attachments for it – including a dump body, hydraulic system, plow, salt spreader and LED lights – from Gledhill Road Machinery Co. in Galion for $56,970.