UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the October 7th Township Board meeting a public hearing was held regarding the 2015 Recommended Budget.

Township Manager Frank Walsh said Township staff has spent about 9 to 10 week preparing the budget.

"I think the budget is in order," said Walsh. "We've made all these changes based on Board input and you have had those changes for a few days now."

During public comment, Township resident Neil Bowlby said he noticed none of the changes were highlighted in the online packet. He stated that under the General Fund for the Police Department, spending on capital items was set at $14,000. Which he says contradicts the explanation on the bottom which says no capital items were planned for 2015.

"I know those things are in numerated in the back somewhere, but for the sake of complete transparency, it would be good to put those things here," said Bowlby. "It would be nice to have that right here, so the public can see it first hand and not have to dig through all the details."

Final budget adoption is expected to occur at the October 21st Township Board meeting.





ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Township Board will hold the 2015 Recommended Budget Public Hearing at their October 7th meeting. The meeting begins at 6pm.

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

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

After all the recommended changes were made, the fund balance of the General Fund is expected to exceed $6,140,000. The changes made can be found on the replacement pages in the October 7th Township Board meeting packet.

The overarching goals of the 2015 Budget included no layoffs, maintaining quality services to residents, meeting employee legacy cost obligations, and investing in the aging Township buildings.

"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.

Final budget adoption is expected to occur at the October 21st Township Board meeting.

Residents can watch the Township Board meeting live on HOMTV (Comcast channel 21) or on our live stream on our website at www.homtv.net. Those who are on the go, can follow the live tweets of the meeting on Twitter @HOMTV #MeridianLive.