W. Bloomfield holding Oct. 17 budget meeting

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees will be holding a special budget meeting on Monday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. that will include a Truth in Budgeting hearing for the public.

The township’s financial director, Peter Dobrzeniecki, said that the public hearing is required so residents and property owners can come in and voice their opinions.

“They will also be discussing the proposed millage rates,” Dobrzeniecki said.

He added that hard copies of the 2012 budget proposal are available at the Clerk’s Office inside the West Bloomfield Township Hall and will be available starting today, Wednesday, Oct. 12, on the township’s website at wbtwp.com.

According to updated ledgers provided by the township, West Bloomfield’s draft 2012 budget projects general fund revenues of about $19.62 million, while the total amount of general fund expenditures is projected at $17.176 million, leaving a $2.44 million surplus and increasing the township’s general fund balance from $5.36 million to $7.80 million.

Among the biggest revenue sources, the township now projects to collect around $10.48 million in township property taxes. The second biggest revenue source would be state shared revenue at $4.117 million. Rounding out the top three revenue sources would be revenue obtained through cable television franchise fees at $1.1 million.

The biggest expenditures under the 2012 requested general fund budget would be transfers totaling $6.437 million, which would go towards the public safety fund.

The next largest expenditure is expected to be West Bloomfield’s share of the 48th District Court’s operational costs, at around $1.645 million.

The 2012 budget is pending the November general election in which the township will ask its residents to renew the township’s existing public safety millage at its current rate of 3.1378 mills for 10 years, and also ask for an 11-year increase of 2.85 mills in two separate ballot questions.

If both the millage renewal and increase are approved, the 2012 public safety fund budget will be projected to take in $27.627 million in revenue.

However, if only the millage renewal is approved and not the 2.85 mills along with it, the general fund balance would be significantly reduced, according to Shellye Dade, the township’s budget director.