Board thwarts idea of furlough days in township budget

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees held a special budget meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, where it was determined that there would be no furlough days for township employees in 2012.

The township has observed nine furlough days throughout 2011.

The board also approved the township’s drug forfeiture fund budget. Yet to be approved for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget year, which begins Jan. 1, 2012, are the general fund, public safety fund, the water and sewer fund, capital projects fund, the drains-at-large fund, and the retiree health care fund budgets.

Township Trustee Gene Farber said he doesn’t see any major issues with the budget moving forward.

“It’s a matter of going over pretty thoroughly most of the items,” he said. “Most of the costs we have pinned down because the unions agreed to contract concessions.”

He added that issues were raised that have to be verified, such as an adjustment for uncollected property taxes in both the general fund and public safety budgets.

“We’ll have more revenue than we thought on that particular item,” Farber said.

He added that the township will also take into consideration a 2 percent increase in state aid to the township, as well as predictions related to interest income.

The township’s state drug forfeiture fund is projected to bring in $127,300 in revenue. Expenditures were approved at $312,800, leaving $332,300 in the fund balance.

The township’s federal Department of Justice (DOJ) forfeiture fund is projected to bring in $124,200 in revenue. Expenditures were approved at $302,000, leaving $249,800 in the fund balance.

The township’s U.S. Department of Treasury drug forfeiture fund is projected to bring in $10,500 in revenue. Expenditures were approved at $18,000, leaving $255,400 in the fund balance.

The safety path fund is projected to bring in $623,400 in revenue. The budget calls for $1.01 million in expenditures, which will leave $4.25 million remaining in the fund balance.

Another special budget meeting will be held by the township board on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

The next regular township board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12, where the remainder of the 2012 budget could be approved.

According to ledgers previously 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.