After a handful of budgeting sessions, the Orion Township Board of Trustees still could not approve its 2007 budget at the Sept. 18 meeting.
The board set 2006 millage rates, the subject of a brief public hearing that took place during the regularly scheduled meeting.
However, they voted 4-3 against approving the proposed budget.
‘The really important issue was to establish a millage rate, and that’s what the public hearing was about,? said Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk.
‘We fulfilled that portion,? he said.
Dywasuk was one of three on the board, joined by trustees Matt Gibb and John Steimel, to vote for approval of the budget.
Those that didn’t vote yes raised the issue of not wanting to balance the proposed budget by using general fund dollars, as their main reason for voting against it.
The item will be back on the agenda at the Oct. 2 board meeting.
Dywasuk was disappointed that the budget was not agreed upon at the meeting, but said the board realistically has until the end of the year to approve a budget for 2007.
‘It’s not a crisis,? he stressed.
Prior to rejecting the proposed budget, the board also rejected a last minute motion from Treasurer Alice Young.
With all full-time township employees set to get a three percent salary increase, Young suggested that the three full-time board members (herself and Dywasuk, along with Clerk Jill Bastian) join the four elected trustees in forgoing any raise for 2007.
Bastian and Young voted against the salary increase, while Dywasuk and the four trustees were in favor of it.