The Hopkins Township Board Monday night adopted a fiscal year 2019-20 budget with about $322,000 on anticipated revenue and $410,000 in expenses expected. The shortfall of just under $88,000 will be handled easily by a fund balance pegged at better than $758,000.
A public hearing was held before adoption, with no comments from the public, and the board voted 4-0, with Supervisor Mark Evans absent, for adoption.
The greatest source of revenue for the township will be state revenue sharing, estimated at $165,000. Next highest source is property taxes at $57,000. The third highest, revenue from the Gun Lake Casino compact, was about $36,000 last fiscal year.
The greatest expense in the general fund is listed as the fire contract contribution of $93,000, cemetery outlay at $40,000 and “other professional fees” at $25,000.
The salaries of Supervisor Evans, Clerk Eric Alberda and Treasurer Sandra Morris remain at $15,780 and the assessor is pegged at $18,000.
In separate funds, it is expected that $290,000 will be set aside for roads, $74,600 for the fire fund and $32,760 for recycling.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the board:
• Joined the Village Council in listening to a presentation from Director Greg King of Lakeshore Advantage, an economic development company that attempts to match up business opportunities for communities. King, who formerly was a grant writer for Junior Achievement, already has Lakeshore involved with Ottawa County in the program and a cost of $1,200 has been suggested for Watson Township.
County Commissioner Gale Dugan praised the new program by saying, “It’s putting a lot of business at a top level. We’re already seeing results.”
• Awarded the low bid for mowing the park and cemeteries to K Squared Quality Care of Hopkins at a cost of $10,800 for cemeteries and $3,660 for the park for a total of $14,460.
• Approved the work order to have two culverts replaced on bridges at 13th Street near 135th Avenue and 130th Avenue east of 16th Street.
• Was told by Dugan that the County of Commissioners has approved an indigent attorney program and a lawyers for Van Buren and Allegan Counties has been hired.
