By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
The Pleasant Township board of trustees adopted the projected budget for the 2016 fiscal year. As with previous years, the forecast predicts decreases in several funds, but township officials say the immediate financial outlook remains stable.
The general fund is projected to begin 2016 with a balance of $530,000, which is $115,615 less than the beginning of the actual 2015 fiscal year. The projected balance in the general fund at the end of the year is estimated at $391,735.
The trustees said the continued decrease in general fund dollars is due to the elimination of the inheritance tax. They said they expect there to be no more cuts at the state level and do not expect much to come their way either. However, chairwoman Nancy Hunter said the township is not in a dire financial situation.
“We’re still hanging on,” she said at the July 14 board of trustees meeting. “We’re holding our own.”
Hunter added that the township would continue conservation efforts to ensure the stability of the township.
Under the road department, the road and bridge fund is projected to begin 2016 with a balance of $24,692, which is an increase of $1,000 from the beginning of the actual 2015 fiscal year. The projected balance for the end of 2016 is $15,692.
Additional funds that can be used for the road department are the motor vehicle and license tax fund, the gasoline tax fund, the cemetery fund and the cemetery bequest fund. They have projected balances for the beginning of the 2016 year of $79,928, $50,719, $31,968 and 2,452, respectively.
With the fire department, the fire district fund is projected to begin 2016 with a balance of about $526,000, which in an increase of nearly $60,000 than the actual 2015 fiscal year.
Additional funds that can be used toward the fire budget is the capital equipment fund and the ambulance and emergency medical service fund, which are projected to begin the next fiscal year with a balance of $219,212 and $188,168, respectively.
Fire Chief Jay Noojin said the department is in “decent shape” financially and there will no need for a levy this year. He added that there are no major purchases planned though they are mulling the need for a new grass fighter in the near future.
“It’s in the preliminary stages where we just talking about it but we are not doing anything at this point in time,” he said.
