By David Fleet

Editor

Groveland Twp.– On Oct.10 the township board of trustees approved an audit presented by Ken Palka, from the accounting firm of Pfeffer, Hanniford and Palka.

Palka reported on the township finances following the completion of the yearly audit. The board approved the audit ending March 31, 2016. The township ended the year with $502,895 of additional funds. The township fire department fund is $1,213,609.

State shared revenues to the township dipped slightly to $411,929 compared to $422,072 for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Total for the year ending March 31 included $979,351 in revenues, down slightly from $1,009,733 for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Expenditures were $726,587 a small increase from $663,305 for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The township fund balance grew to $3,277,954 for the 2015-16 fiscal year, up from $2,775,059 in the 2014-15 fiscal year. In addition, $1,363,824 was reported in the infrastructure fund. The infrastructure account, established in 2009, includes funds earmarked for projects such as road paving, property development and emergency reserves. A transfer from the infrastructure account requires board approval. The combination of the general fund balance and infrastructure fund is $4,641,778.

Bob DePalma, township supervisor, was pleased with the results of the audit.

“The audit went about as smooth as it could have,” he said.

DePalma said that adding about $500,000 to a general fund balance of more than $4 million is necessary in the event funding is needed for an infrastructure improvement to Tripp Road west of Grange Hall Road to Dixie Highway. The mile section of road has flooded on occasion and continues to deteriorate.

“Right now we are looking at 2018 to work on Tripp,” he said. “If that section of road is not fixed soon it will be require a full rebuild.”

DePalma added that funds will be needed to redo the township master plan.

“Now that the ORV state park project is moving forward along Dixie Highway we may want to look changes to some of the frontage for businesses along Dixie,” he said. “We might want to take a look at what type of businesses will fit near the state park.”