The details
After moving quickly through budget workshops, the township covered budget priorities for FY 2023-24. Township President and CEO Monique Sharp outlined at the Aug. 21 meeting there was $113 million within township reserves. However, only $11.5 million was undesignated for this fiscal year and available for board members to allocate, she said.
The budget proposed by the township totals $157.32 million under the no-new-revenue rate of $0.1714 per $100 valuation.
The breakdown
Some of the funding initiatives approved at the Aug. 22 meeting include:
- Six sheriff patrol deputies
- Two crisis intervention team deputies
- Three detectives for Precinct 3 Constable’s Office
- A new Polaris Ranger
- $3.5 million for townshipwide park improvements
- Increased yearly reforestation efforts for 6,000 trees
In case you missed it
Plans for a long-awaited and planned performing arts center were also brought back as a funding priority for the township. While funding was not directly allocated to the project, Sharp did inform the board there was roughly $8 million in economic development funding, which could be utilized as leverage funding for the project if the township sought assistance in funding through a bond issue or certificate of obligation.
In their words
“We have been involved in different discussions, and we have a ways to go,” Sharp said. “My recommendation at this time is to reserve the hotel tax funding that is allocated at this part at this point in order to be able to fund a major economic development project of which the performing arts facility would obviously qualify for.”
What's next
A special hearing will be held Sept. 7 for the township to give final approval on the budget and tax rate.
