Sumpter Township budget is topic at meeting

Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees met March 24 for a public hearing on the upcoming 2020-2021 budget.
Township Finance Director Michelle Cole told the trustees that in light of the current state of emergency due to the corona virus she was going to discuss just the most important items in the budget.
“This is a budget planning document,” she said. “Everything will have to go through all channels of approval.”
Cole said the top item was the year end total which showed that township revenue was up. “Expenses are up, too,” she said, “but this shows that the township has done a really good job in closing the gap on previous water issues.”

She noted that general fund expenditures included an overall assessment of the network which would include new phones, I-phones, emails and several computers that need replacing along with some printers.” She estimated the cost was $40,000.
The budget includes $85,000 for the purchase of police interceptor vehicles and noted that the police department has done a good job in replacing vehicles incrementally. There is also $20,000 in the proposed budget for the upgrade and purchase of radios as the police are switching models to comply with the type used throughout the area.
She also noted there was a $15,000 allotment for building repair and a $12,000 expense for an evidence cabinet which had been previously budgeted.
Cole explained that the budget also include a funding mechanism for a new fire truck which would loan $150,000 from the general fund to be repaid over seven years.
Trustee Don LaPorte noted that the fire truck needed replacing as the vehicle is 20 years old and can no longer be considered a front-line truck without re-certification and testing for current standards. He said that lighting alone on the vehicle could cost $45,000.
LaPorte said having a vehicle in compliance with all National Fire Protection standards was important as it impacted homeowner's insurance rates.
“Homeowner' insurance rates go up,” he noted, explaining the need for a new fire vehicle as a budget expense this year.
Cole also noted that the proposed budget includes a $13,000 expense for water meter radio units that can be read from inside a truck.
She said that she was impressed with the financial decisions trustees made during the last year.
“Your efforts are starting to pay off,” she said of the budget which showed a 9-percent increase in the net position of the township.
Further hearings on the budget will be scheduled when the current coronavirus crisis has abated.
Trustees agreed to cancel meetings through April.