The Bingham Township Board held its annual meeting June 24, setting salaries for township officers and approving the township budget for the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
In the township’s 2024-2025 budget, the township’s total revenue is projected at $421,174 and their expenses without capital outlay are $345,784.25. Township Supervisor Midge Werner said that the board determined their 245 funds and reconciliation discrepancies add another $338,000 in expenses, for a total of $683,84.25 in expenses.
With the capital outlay to 245 funds added to the total expenses, the township is operating at a loss of $262,610.25. Last year, they had a loss of $219,046.67. In June 2023, Township Treasurer Sandra Grant commented that this deficit is not unusual for a township of Bingham’s size.
“This township is considerably fiscally conservative,” Township Trustee Todd Stone said at Monday’s meeting. “So, at the end of the (fiscal) year, this is fairly typical of what we’d have at the end of it.”
The township board then adopted the general appropriations act for the fiscal year 20242025 to raise the revenues projected above. As part of this resolution, the township board will levy and collect a general property tax millage at a rate of 0.20 mills. The act also defines officials’ duties in administrating the budget.
Also in the annual meeting, the board received annual reports from several committees. Zoning Administrator Steve Patmore reported that the township has issued 79 shortterm rental permits so far in 2024, out of an 86-permit limit. Patmore said that 54 land use permits were issued in 2023 and 29 land use permits have been issued so far this year.
Township trustee and planning commission vice chair Jeff Layman said that “the vast majority of the planning commission’s time and efforts was spent working with Networks Northwest on the update to the Bingham Township master plan.” He said they hope to complete the master plan update in late 2024 or early 2025.
In his annual report on the parks and recreation committee, Stone said the committee seeks to complete its five-year plan and have it approved by the end of this year.
During the public comment period at the start of the annual meeting, the board heard comments from half a dozen residents urging them to adopt a blight ordinance. And like at the April regular meeting, these residents hoped that a blight ordinance would be used to abate perceived nuisances at a home on Shady Lane Road.
The board maintained they were not ready to adopt such an ordinance, being concerned about the practical and ethical implications. Several members are not only reluctant to tell people what to do with their own property but are also concerned about the costs of enforcing the ordinance on all township properties. Werner assured the public that the board is still working towards a solution.
The board reconvened for its June regular meeting shortly after its annual meeting and took the following actions: - Renewed its zoning administrative services contract with Suttons Bay Township, in the amount of $23,790.18.
- Reappointed Mary Woods to the planning commission for a three-year term ending July 1, 2027, and appointed three members to the township zoning board of appeals, also for threeyear terms ending July 1, 2027.
