Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said it’s likely that the state is still many months away from hitting rock bottom in the economy, citing last week’s decision by Volkswagen to leave Michigan as a prime example why.
But Dywasuk is very optimistic about the state’s future, especially in Orion Township, where the economic outlook is not nearly as dire.
‘Any community in Oakland County would be glad to change places with us,? he said after giving a speech last week on the ‘State of the Township,? to the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce.
‘The township is in great shape,? Dywasuk said. ‘We have no debt and we’re running very efficiently.?
Dywasuk was joined at the Chamber luncheon by Dave Asker of Plante & Moran, who spoke briefly about the possibility of a new public safety complex coming to Orion (see related story in this web edition).
As the township finalizes its budget for next year (see related brief in this web edition), Dywasuk spoke highly of the job the various department heads have done to stay within their means.
‘Each budget, on its own, has stayed balanced,? he noted.
The supervisor said the township’s surplus has grown from $3 million to $6 million over the last four years, enabling the township to do some unique things recently.
‘We set that money aside and have been able to help with projects that weren’t anticipated,? Dywasuk said, noting the recent $100,000 purchase of gravel for some township roads as an example.
Helping to preserve the Union Church is another project Dywasuk said has been made possible by the surplus in the General Capital Improvement Fund.
Dywasuk also spoke about the importance of township government, given that House Bill 4780 remains ‘on the table.? Though the legislation would only affect townships under 20,000, the township board has come out against any such bill and Dywasuk noted that limiting any township legislation could eventually hurt Orion.
The township has over 34,000 residents, and projections indicate another 10,000 could come within the next 20 years.
‘The projection originally by SEMCOG is that we’d be up to 44 or 45,000 residents by 2025,? Dywasuk said.
He noted that recent economic trouble could see those numbers fall off a bit, but they would not eliminate the anticipated growth completely.
‘We’re really in an advantageous positions because our Water & Sewer Department can handle so much and there’s still plenty of room for growth,? Dywasuk added.
Because of the recent economic slowdown, many projects have not moved as fast as previously anticipated, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t coming, according to Dwyasuk.
‘They’re just being delayed,? he said. ‘The worst thing that could happen is that they’d just stay on the back burner.?
Dywasuk noted that there are incentives for developers to start projects, as their paperwork to begin building usually runs out after two years.
The slowdown in development has also allowed the various boards, such as the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission, to update ordinances.
Overall, the supervisor said Orion Township has the lowest operating millage of any township in the area. Dywasuk and Accounting Coordinator Barb Armstrong said the township has even been able to offer a $200,000 rollback to taxpayers the last two years.
Armstrong said the township’s operating fund, which has been at 0.82-mills the last two years, will remain well under 1-mill in 2008.