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Trustees weigh large budget cuts, possible payoff of $560,000 debt and property sale as levies approach
Summary
Fairfield Township trustees discussed major deficit pressures across departments and considered paying off $560,000 in Princeton Road debt to save roughly $18,000 in interest, while approving several administrative motions and a property sale; trustees outlined options to increase revenue and cut costs if levies fail.
Trustees spent a large portion of their April 14 meeting focused on township finances and contingency planning in case upcoming levies fail. Administrator and department heads presented options including fee increases, hiring freezes, overtime caps, benefit reductions, capital deferrals and building consolidation. Trustees were told the township faces significant departmental overages—about $3 million in the fire department and roughly $1.6 million in police—which could require cuts that approach 25% in worst-case scenarios.
On capital finance, trustees debated whether to use invested TIP funds to pay off the Princeton Road debt early. Staff reported a principal balance of about $560,000; paying off the loan before June 1 would require a 30-day notice and could avoid roughly $18,000 in interest. Several trustees supported early payoff to "get it off the books," while others asked staff to confirm cash-flow consequences before authorizing payment. The board adopted Resolution 26-43 to authorize debt service payments and directed staff to proceed with payoff notice as appropriate.
Trustees approved a series of administrative motions and appropriations. The board authorized the administrator retroactively to execute an electric aggregation contract with Dynegy at a price not to exceed 10.199 cents per kilowatt-hour for up to 24 months; it advanced $17,715.06 from the general fund to the lighting district to cover February electric bills; and it approved payment of a $20,115.52 Swope invoice for the second quarter. Resolutions adopted included payment to Sedgwick ($9,295), declaring surplus property for sale to MetroParks ($4,000), and a change order for curb and gutter repairs adding up to $14,910.45 while remaining under the project's budget.
The board also authorized the sale of township property at 2659 Tylersville Road (the old fire station/public works building) and tabled one procurement resolution to obtain missing county bid amounts. Trustees moved and approved shifting the June trustee meeting from June 9 to June 23 to accommodate member schedules.
No layoffs or formal spending reductions were adopted at the meeting; trustees directed staff to prepare detailed budget impact analyses and to return with recommendations at the May meeting.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 26-40 (payment to Sedgwick, $9,295) — adopted on roll call; Resolution 26-41 (surplus sale to Metro Parks, $4,000) — adopted; Resolution 26-42 (revising 2026 appropriations) — adopted; Resolution 26-43 (debt service payment / Princeton Road TIF) — adopted; Resolution 26-44 (change order for curb and gutter, up to $14,910.45) — adopted; Resolution 26-45 — tabled; Resolution 26-46 (authorize sale of 2659 Tylersville Road) — adopted.
