Atlas Twp. – Atlas Township’s 2003-2004 fiscal year ended March 31, leaving the township with a budget surplus of approximately $98,000.
‘It shows up as a surplus now, but we don’t have all of our bills from the road commission yet,? said Paul Amman, Atlas Township supervisor, who anticipates the township ‘will end up in the black? when all of the 2003-2004 bills are accounted for.
As of March 12, the township had taken in $950,552 in revenues for the year, about $55,000 less than expected.
Cuts in state revenue sharing were considerable, said Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica, down approximately $23,000 from the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Reduced interest income affected revenues nearly as much, earning about $19,000 less on township bank accounts than last year.
Despite the reduced revenues, Atlas Township residents shouldn’t feel the pinch, since the township spent approximately $154,000 less than expected.
Road expenditures amounted to approximately $45,000 less than what was budgeted, while garbage expenses came to about $16,000 less than originally expected.
Following the March 15 ‘Truth in Taxation? 2004 budget review public hearing, the Atlas Township Board approved the 2004-2005 budget on a consent agenda with a single motion.
For 2004-2005, the township budgeted $1,075,204, an increase of $69,060, which includes approximately $47,000 to be received in approved extra taxes.
An additional $20,000 has been budgeted to spend on township roads this year, along with approximately $5,000 in drain expenditures.