Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved the 2023-2024 budget at the March 28 meetingwith dissenting votes from Trustee Peggy Morgan and Trustee Don LaPorte.
While final budget numbers were not available at press time, the new financial plan was praised by Township Manager Anthony Burdick. Burdick told the board members that the budget this year “protects and maintains the integrity of the general fund and allows for strategic initiatives and planning for the first time as well as setting up a capital project fund.”
He added that the budget will allow the township officials to respond to inevitable situations such as the recent repairs at township hall.
While specifics of the budget were not publicly discussed at the meeting, an agenda item included approval of 5 percent raises for officials. During the public comment section of the agenda, a resident inquired as to the exact amount of the proposed new salaries for elected officials.
“What is the compensation going to be after this? Maybe some of us are interested in running for office and we would like to know what the salary is,” she said.
In response, officials explained that trustees are currently paid $22,000 a year and the 5-percent increase would take that to $23,100 annually.
The treasurer and clerk currently make $30,000 annually and the 5-percent increase would raise that to $31,500. The township supervisor's salary is $38,000 and the increase will take that amount to $39,000 annually.
The motion for the salary increases was approved by a roll call vote of the trustees.
