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Board approves $50,000 interim release for Marshalls Creek Fire Company while audit pending
Summary
After debate about an overdue audit, the township board voted to issue $50,000 in prorated fire/EMS tax funds to Marshalls Creek Fire Company and to postpone the company’s audit deadline to Sept. 15, 2026, contingent on a written resolution and follow‑up with the auditor.
The township board voted by voice to provide a $50,000 interim disbursement to Marshalls Creek Fire Company (MCFC) while the company completes a delayed annual audit, and directed staff to formalize the action in a written resolution that postpones the audit deadline to Sept. 15, 2026.
MCFC representatives told the board their previous accounting firm fell behind and that a new auditor, Riley & Co., expects to begin fieldwork in mid‑July with delivery of the audit by Sept. 15. The company said the June tax disbursement normally used for operating costs was late this year, leaving them short on cash for truck repairs and day‑to‑day bills. "We live off that money," an MCFC speaker said, explaining they had scaled projects back and were pursuing fundraising but still faced an immediate need.
Board members said they were sympathetic to the public‑safety risk but worried about releasing tax funds before the statutorily required audit was in hand. One supervisor said the township’s finance director was unwilling to authorize any disbursement until an audit report was received. Counsel advised that, because the board is altering a prior audit requirement, the change should be memorialized in a signed written resolution to protect the township.
After discussion, a supervisor moved to issue a prorated interim amount estimated to bridge the company through the expected audit delivery date; the motion as amended specified $50,000 and the Sept. 15 deadline. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board directed staff to draft and sign an amendment to the relevant resolution reflecting the postponement and the conditional $50,000 payment and to copy MCFC and its auditor on follow‑up communications.
The board did not record a roll‑call tally in the minutes provided; the action was described and approved by voice vote. Board members said they expect the audit to be completed on the stated timetable and asked to be notified if the auditor’s schedule changes.
Next steps: staff will draft the written resolution amending the audit deadline and documenting the interim disbursement; the auditor (Riley) and MCFC will be copied on the correspondence and updates will be requested if the audit schedule slips.
