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Franklin Township council introduces $73.2 million municipal budget; sets May 13 public hearing
Summary
Council introduced the calendar year 2025 municipal budget, discussed major cost drivers including health insurance and debt service, and set a May 13 public hearing. The council also approved the Hamilton Street Special Improvement District budget and approved warrants totaling $13,739,535.45.
The Franklin Township Council introduced its calendar year 2025 municipal budget on April 8, proposing $73,203,524.39 in appropriations before grants and scheduling a public hearing for May 13, 2025.
Township Manager Vornlacher presented the budget, saying it represents a $4.19 million, or 6.07%, increase over 2024. He told the council the largest cost drivers include a $1.39 million increase in health insurance (about 15.2%), a roughly $1.2 million increase in debt service (about 35.4%), higher utility costs, increased software licensing costs and salary and wage adjustments. The manager said the township will use about $11.9 million in fund balance to reduce the tax increase the township needed to raise and that the amount to be raised by municipal taxes will increase by $1 million to just under $39 million.
Vornlacher said increased assessed valuations in the township — from about $14.9 billion in 2024 to about $16.7 billion in 2025 — mean the average home assessed value rose to about $555,485 and municipal-only tax on the average home will increase by $83.23, from $1,216.61 to $1,299.83. Council members and the manager explained that assessment changes and levy choices both affect individual bills and encouraged residents who believe their assessments are incorrect to review comparable sales and, if warranted, file an appeal with the assessor.
Council members voted to introduce the municipal budget and set the May 13 public hearing; the roll-call vote was unanimous. The council also took two further budget votes during the meeting:
- The council approved a Hamilton Street Special Improvement District (SID) calendar-year 2025 budget and adopted Resolution 25-134 to read the Hamilton SID budget by title; the public hearing and adoption were completed with a unanimous roll-call vote.
- The council approved warrants for payment of $13,739,535.45 by roll call.
Officials noted the budget includes continued capital work: $4 million for road resurfacing and an additional $1.2 million for road-related projects, funded through bonding. Staff said several departmental budgets were trimmed to offset mandatory increases, and the manager said some software licensing renewals caused a one-time bump in that line item that he expects to decline in the 2026 budget.
No final adoption of the municipal budget occurred at the April 8 meeting; councilmembers set the public hearing and formally introduced the budget. The council asked residents to attend budget hearings and public sessions for more detail.
