Atlas Township inks budget for 2011-12

Atlas Twp.-The township board of trustees OK’d a $1,201,005 budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year during the township meeting on Monday night.
Highlights of the budget included drawing $90,478 from the fund balance to cover the Genesee County Sheriff Department contract for 2011. Township Trustee Barry June emphasized the police budget will be addressed in 2012.
Also, compensation for the township deputy clerk (part-time) was increased from $18,000 to $20,000 per year and the township deputy treasurer (part-time) compensation was increased from $16,000 to $18,000.
Township Clerk Tere Onica said several factors prompted the pay hike.
‘The budget supported the increase in pay,? she said.
‘You can’t keep the township office open, cover vacations and fill in for sicknesses when necessary with the staff we have. We are required by law to have deputies.?
Currently the township office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday.
By a 3-1 vote the board also eliminated funding for the township deputy supervisor. The $5,000 will be used for road chloride.
Onica, June and Slagle voted yes. Jones voted no.
‘There’s no job description,? said Onica.
‘How can you support paying for a position that does not exist.?