The Addison Township Board has unanimously approved a general appropriations resolution for 2003 with a general fund budget of $1,452,050.
This year’s resolution set the township millage rate at 1.1688 mills, down from 1.184 mills last year, for operations. The library millage was set at 0.6218 mills. The fire department millages increased from 1.4435 to 1.8163 for operating and 0.6299 to 0.7303 for capital for a total of 2.5466 for the year. The police department millage also increased significantly from 2.0995 to 3.0726. Both the fire department and police department increases were approved by the public during the August 2002 vote.
The largest increase in this year’s budget is for the road program. According to township treasurer Dan Alberty the road program’s budget increased to $134,000 from $73,000 because of the 2003 Tri-party graveling program.
“Basically, we can only do this if Oakland County comes through with the program,” he said. “We only have to pay a third of the amount.
Addison township is set to have 11.60 miles of road graveled for around $46,400. Those roadways set for graveling include: 2.16 miles of Ray Rd. from the township line to Lake George Rd.; 1 mile of Brewer Rd. from Dequinder to Townsend Rd.; 1.13 miles of Frick Rd. from Rochester to Haggerman; 1.65 miles of Leonard Rd. from east of Rochester Rd.; all of Texter Rd.; 2 miles of Yule Rd. from east of Rochester Rd.; all of Walker Rd.; 1.10 miles of Noble Rd. from east of Lake George Rd.; and .5 miles of Haven Rd. from Noble to Leonard.
“We’re trying to put some money back into the roads,” explained Alberty.
Other increases in the budget include an increase in the audit fees from $10,000 to $17,000 due to knew auditing requirements; the planning commission from $58,250 to $66,250 due to the codification of the township’s master plan; and the fire department, which shows an unusually large capital budget of $1,395,320, due to the construction of the new fire station in Leonard. Funding for the new fire hall will be financed.
“We had to put the new hall in just like it will be done this year,” explained Alberty.
A final increase in the budget was for the township’s contigency fund. Once again, officials increased the amount by $5,000 – from $45,000 to $50,000. This is the second year township administrators have felt a need to increase the amount.
Alberty said that with current economic situations, the township wanted to guarantee plenty of funding was available for unexpected needs.
One item that did decrease for this year was capital improvements on the township hall. The amount dropped by $20,000 for this fiscal year.
“We’re trying to keep the amount down to a bare minimum,” explained Alberty.