Township reviews draft budget, staff proposes using ARPA money to replace two bridges

Township supervisors spent a workshop session reviewing draft 2025 operating and capital numbers and discussing options to close an apparent shortfall. Chair (Speaker 1) led the board through pages of revenue and expense lines while staff (Speaker 2) explained drivers behind declines and one-time capital asks.

Staff said real-estate tax receipts have fallen, in part due to tax appeals on recently constructed higher-value homes, and that franchise revenue from cable has trended down as residents switch to streaming and fiber service. "Cable franchise has consistently gone down over the years," the staff member said, explaining the board’s $2,000 reduction in the franchise estimate.

The staff member also described specific line items staff want to revisit: sewer-search processing fees (currently a $25 processing fee while staff spend more than an hour on the work), zoning-permit revenue assumptions, and several contractor-service lines. "We're getting $25 to process them, and we're spending a little over an hour," the staff member said of sewer searches, arguing the fee should be raised to better match staff time.

On capital needs, staff outlined equipment and grant plans. The draft lists contractor services at $404,100 and a capital-expense placeholder of $250,000 tied to an ongoing grant application; staff said the replacement for a zero‑turn mower is estimated at $22,000. "That number has to be in there regardless of whether we get the grant or not," the staff member said about the capital line.

Board members debated whether to add a public works director position (a suggested salary in the conversation was about $75,000) or retain current staffing. Some supervisors urged caution while other members said the position is designed to centralize code enforcement and road work oversight. The board did not reach a decision in the recorded discussion.

Staff flagged accounting issues that affect the appearance of the budget. They said an expected internal transfer of roughly $1.1 million had not been posted, which makes year-to-date figures look worse than the cash reality; once adjusted, staff estimated the net overage was closer to $807,800. Staff also said assessed-value declines will reduce revenue by about $90,000–$100,000 compared with prior expectations.

On federal relief funds, staff proposed reallocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. The staff member recommended spending ARPA on Rock Hollow Bridge and rolling remaining Rock Hollow allocations into Gunhart Bridge—work staff identified as eligible and urgent. "I would like to spend the ARPA money on Rock Hollow Bridge... and carry it over to Gunhart Bridge because Gunhart Bridge needs to be replaced as well," staff said. The board discussed whether shifting those ARPA allocations would meet eligibility and reporting requirements and noted the need to claim expenditures timely to avoid audit challenges.

Other items discussed included grant timing (staff said a recycling grant payment is expected in November), a plan to move electric charges into the correct accounts so parks and township buildings are charged appropriately, and the timing for required public advertisement ahead of final budget adoption. Staff reminded the board a 30-day advertisement is required and that the workshop scheduled for the thirteenth affects the advertising timeline.

The meeting did not record any formal motions or votes on these items. The next procedural steps discussed were staff investigation of unexplained revenue variances, confirmation of grant timelines, and approving budget advertisement either that night or at the workshop so a final meeting can be scheduled in December.