The Dorr Township Bo
ard Monday night adopted a 2015-16 general fund budget of more than $1.3 million, with a fund balance of just about that amount.
The township is expecting revenues at $1.384 million and expenditures of nearly the same figure and a fund balance of $1.35 million after setting aside $200,000 for the parks budget.
The township’s largest source of revenue is state revenue sharing, at $636,000 and property taxes from the local levy of 0.707 mill is at about $165,000. The township levy at one time was 1.1 mill, but it had to be rolled back over decades to 0.707 because of provisions in the state-wide ballot initiative known as the Headlee Amendment, approved in November 1978.
The board held a public hearing, which elicited few questions.
Supervisor Jeff Miling said the township had to take about $124,00 from the road savings account to take care of dust control, for graveling work and replacing a culvert in fiscal year 2014-15. But this year’s budget does not have a road millage for fixing and maintaining roads unless a three-mill increase request is approved on the May 5 special election ballot.
There also will be a request on the May 5 ballot for the fire department to replace equipment.
The general fund budget also includes a library levy of 0.3 mill, which generates about $66,000.
The only two areas in which township expenses will exceed $100,000 are the fire department at $122,800, police coverage at $109,800 and building and grounds was close at $96,600.
Though there was much debate about the salaries of the township supervisor, clerk and treasurer, their request for an increase from $26,400 to $27,800 annually would amount to $4,200 in expenses, which this budget had built in. Township trustees are paid $14,000 a year, which is $3,500 apiece for the four officials.
