In an ideal world, Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls would like the township’s budget to operate with a surplus large enough to cover six months of expenses.
The 2006 township budget will not provide that comfort. The township board set slightly higher millage rates and approved the budget at a sparsely attended public hearing on Sept 20.
‘We’re looking at a surplus in the general fund of around $300,000 which is down and less than 25 percent of the general fund. Previously, we’ve attempted to operate with a surplus equal to six months of the operating budget, which is high, but that’s where we are comfortable,? said Walls.
Based on calculations from worksheets provided at the hearing, the proposed 2006 budget has $6,937,258 in total revenues and $6,889,908 in total expenditures. In comparison, the 2005 budget, with final numbers not yet available, had $5,370,011 in revenues and $5,333,561 in expenditures.
Walls said this year’s budget is conservative with only a few projects including the new pathway from the Civic Center driveway to the sidewalk in front of Davisburg Elementary, Civic Center parking lot repair and the expansion of firestation #2 located at Rattalee Lake Road and Dixie Highway.
‘It’s very similar to last year, but with no real change or increase. Total general fund expenditures are nearly identical. If not for the repairs to the Civic Center parking lot the general fund budget would be down roughly $100,000. Without the additional police officer and expansion to the fire station, those funds would be the same as last year,? said Walls.
The 2005 millage rate is 4.5845, an small increase of .0236 mills from 2004. The following individual mills are included in that total: general fund, .9993; fire, .8959; police, 2.0627; and bond repayment for the Civic Center, .6266.
The board approved the maximum millage rate, which is higher than in 2004, because the maximum allowed police millage was the only millage not set at the maximum in 2004, according to a Sept. 15 memo from Walls to the board. The increase will help cover the expenses of an additional patrol investigator for the township said Walls.