Groveland Twp.-By a 5-0 vote on Monday night, the township board of trustees approved a new budget which includes about $124,000 less, due to declines in revenue sharing from the state and a drop in property taxes.
The township board OK’d a $999,665 budget, with a fund equity in reserve of 70 percent or about $700,000.
There is also about $1.5 million in township funds set aside for capital improvements including pending road projects in township coffers.
‘We have been proactive over the past years,? said Bob DePalma, township supervisor. ‘The number of employees in the office have been rolled back to what we had in the early 1990s, as in years past there will also be no raises for township officials.?
The new budget also includes several reductions compared to other years.
While township gravel roads will continue to receive chloride five-times per year, there will be no new gravel applied to the roads. The reduction comes after a majority of county commissioners voted to cut funding of the Tri-Party Road Improvement Program (a program based on a partnership with the Road Commission for Oakland County and with local municipalities within the county) from $2.25 million to $1 million and to require all Tri-Party Program projects to be approved by the county commission.
In addition, township residents will pay $10 co-pay to for the NO-HAZ drop-off. In past years there was no charge, however, township officials say a 53-percent annual increase in usage prompted the increase.
The township will continue financial support to Holly and Ortonville Youth Assistance however the amount will be reduced from $5,000 each per year to $1,500.
There will be no funding for township residents who utilize the swimming area at Groveland Oaks. Previously the township paid $1,500 per year for a life-guard at the beach, residents will now be required to pay for usage.