By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Howard Township's 2007-08 budget was unanimously adopted Tuesday night with uncertainties about what state revenue sharing will do and without a police contract in it for next year. However, it has a hefty fund balance of $612,969 expected at the end of next year.
The budget showed a beginning fund balance of $438,426, revenues of $738,973, expenditures of $564,430 and the ending fund balance of $612,969.
Township Supervisor Michael Sutherland opened the public hearing on the budget saying even though state revenue sharing of $445,173 is expected, it is not known for sure what the governor will do or the Legislature will do in balancing the state budget.
Sutherland noted township officers and trustees did not get a pay increase. He said the raises went to township office employees of 3.3 percent with a savings in health insurance for one employee who is going to one-half time work. He said the police contract with the Cass County Sheriff's Office was not renewed because of the $100,000 contract for 40 hours a week.
Sutherland said $25,000 was put in a capital improvement fund, but other funds stayed basically the same. "We are trying to stay as fiscally responsible as possible," he said.
"We will have to look at a new building in the future and possibly a fire station/town hall," he said, noting the last fire truck ordered had to conform with the size of the building not particularly the one needed to serve the township.
The budget showed salaries of $11,376 for four trustees or $2,844 each; supervisor, $14,208; clerk and treasurer, $12,804 each; fire chief, $9,960; assistant fire chief, $2,520. Township residents wanting a copy of the budget during the hearing had to pay a fee of $5 for it.
Following the hearing, the board reconsidered the approval of a liquor license for the Stop In Restaurant on Barron Lake Road. In February, the board denied it. Trustee Irving Frost said before reconsidering the license, the board "should get all our ducks in a row." After a brief discussion, the matter was tabled for the board to seek more information. Trustee George Johnson Jr. said he would not change his mind from the February vote.
Restaurant operators Laura Schaffert and David McCarty were represented by Attorney Michael Bell of Buchanan who said the restaurant would remain a family restaurant. The board renewed contracts with David Swanstrom, building and mechanical inspector; Ron Bellaire, electrical inspector; Ed Wainwright, plumbing inspector; Jerry Thibodeau, assessor; and Linda McGregor, zoning administrator.
Named fire chief was Ron Fazi; ordinance enforcement, Shaune Timm; auditor, Derek Hall; insurance carrier, Western Insurance Agency; attorney, Hadsell, Landgraf, Lynch and Drew; and asset appraiser, Deyo Associates.