Two residents encouraged the Solon Township Board during Saturday’s annual meeting to think “longterm” rather than “short term” when it comes to the township.
“There needs to be a 5 to 10-year plan for the community,” former fire chief Chris Comeaux said. “In my experience… talking about something and getting it done, are two different things … You could use the list to prioritize and budget accordingly.”
Township resident Mary O’Neill expressed similar thoughts.
“We need to be proactive about improving the committee… I think much of what is done is reactionary versus proactive,” she said.
This was before township Clerk Shirley Mikowski read the minutes from the 2023 meeting and Supervisor Jim Lautner went over the proposed budget which includes estimated revenue of revenue of $652,725, up from $611,225 this year.
About half this total — $358,000 — will be generated by the township’s 2.5-mill levy for fire and rescue services which will be on the August Primary ballot. State shared revenue is identified at $170,000, unchanged from this year and the township’s allocated millage will generate about $72,000, unchanged from this budget year.
Rounding out the revenue is $32,000 coming from the township 1% tax administration fee.
Listed separately in the spending plan are funds totaling $121,503 for fire sinking fund ($103,594); a sidewalk fund ($19,567) and road improvements ($12,380).
Also identified separately are non-township funds for the Cedar River Marina Project, $24,535; Parks and Recreation, $13,348; and $12,085 in funds distributed as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA).
Proposed expenses of $638,493 are identified for the new budget year which begins April 1.
Fire and rescue services are the township’s biggest expense at $326,993. Another $35,000 is earmarked for replacement of the bleachers at the community softball fields.
The budget included salaries reflecting resolutions adopted in February by the board. It includes raises for the township clerk and treasurer’s positions.
The adopted resolutions which will increase compensation for the clerk’s position from $19,000 to $22,000 and the treasurer’s post from $17,000 to $18,000 for the 2024-2025 budget year.
No changes were included for the supervisor or trustee positions which will remain at $10,000 and $105 per meeting, respectively.
The 2024-25 budget was adopted at a special meeting of the board immediately after the annual meeting.
