MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Residents got a taste of what the 2015 Budget may look like at the Township Board Budget Deliberation meeting on Tuesday, September 9th where the Board reviewed the Meridian Township 2015 Recommended Budget.

Township Manager Frank Walsh gave a presentation summarizing the recommended budget that would begin January 1st, 2015.

The presentation included discussion on the fund balance of the General Fund, police and fire expenditures, motor pool purchases, millage rate and property tax revenue, increases in pension legacy cost, increased water and sewer rates, personnel costs, and projects such as the construction of a new fire station and a new roof for the Meridian Service Center Building.

The overarching goals of the 2015 budget included no layoffs, while maintaining effective service delivery to constituents, meeting legacy cost obligations, and investing in aging buildings while maintaining $5,250,000 General Fund balance.

The 2015 General Fund revenue is expected to be $17,611,718 while expenses for the 2015 budget are at $17,696,290. Even though the expenses exceed the revenue with a shortfall of $84,572, compared to 2014's shortfall of $138,073, the 2015 shortfall was decreased by more than $50,000 dollars.

"Over the last year we have been closely monitoring expenditures to make sure we are spending the money for the right reasons," said Finance Director Gretchen Gomolka.

Some of the key points of the 2015 budget included:
-A 1.62% increase in 2014 taxable home values will provide an additional $102,000 in General Fund tax revenue.
-Police and Fire Departments continue to be a major factor in the overall general fund. With both departments combined, the expenses total nearly 55% of the General Fund expenses. This includes the purchase of a new ambulance, two new police cars, and 1/2 of the funds for a new fire truck.
-The average homeowner will see an increase of $.90 per month for water and sewer rates.
-There will be no changes in the General Fund personnel for 2015; the only exception will be to fire a part-time code enforcement officer to help address 800 to 1,000 enforcement issues the Township experienced this summer.

After the presentation was given, the Township Board were all able to share their comments and concerns.

One of the concerns addressed by Trustee John Veenstra pertained to use of motor pool vehicles.

"I don't think the Township should be furnishing the Directors with a personal car," said Veenstra. "If it's a Township vehicle furnished for personal use, the Township has to put gas in it and so on and I just don't think its appropriate for tax payers to spend money to put gas in cars for Directors to say commute back and forth to work. I'd like to eliminate the Township vehicles provided to people for personal use," said Vennstra.

Manager Walsh responded by saying that he agrees for future use, but will not change things midstream to people who are hired under that agreement.

"I will not be a proponent, I will not support, I will not advocate changing the benefits to people who currently have vehicles who were hired under that agreement and I'm not a proponent for changing things midstream, so I concur with you post-employment for those who have that current situations, but not for people who currently have that benefit," Walsh said.

A public hearing for the 2015 Recommended budget will be held at 6:00 p.m. on October 7th.