Dipping into savings, the Independence Township Board rescued Deer Lake Beach for the summer.
Board members worked til past midnight at the Feb. 20 regular meeting to hammer out budget issues plaguing the township for months. In a series of discussions and votes, the board reinstated Deer Lake Beach programs, set fund-balance limits, and amended the 2007 budget.
Mike Turk, Parks and Recreation Department director, presented a range of proposals for a revived beach program, ranging from ‘swim at your own risk? for $6,300, to a continuation of most of 2006’s schedule, for $35,466.
The board chose the more expensive option. User fees will increase from $1 to $1.25. Beach hours will be from 12-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on the weekends. Opening day is set for June 9, with a Sept. 3 closer.
Regarding fund balance, the township’s “rainy-day fund,” the board agreed to set limits of 20-40 percent of General Fund revenue. The limit is not legally enforceable, but would serve as an administrative tool to let planners know if they are saving too much or too little.
Board members were split on the proposed budget adjustments, voting 4-3 to approve nine amendments:
? Elimination of an office support position in the Building Department, cutting $30,000. The employee will be transferred to the Department of Public Works;
? Decrease full-time salaries in all General Fund departments by $35,000, $10,000 of which in Parks and Rec;
? Increase funding for Parks and Rec – $10,000 for Minor Sports, $11,000 for special events, $21,400 for overtime, $8,410 for conferences, and $6,900 for phone service;
? Transfer $61,200 from the General Fund to Parks and Rec.
One proposed budget amendment, elimination of a part-time support position in the Treasurer’s Office to cut $11,200, was deleted from the list at the request of Treasurer Jim Wenger.
‘I run an efficient department,? Wenger said.
Approving the 2007 budget this past December that was in need of so many budget adjustments was a mistake, said Trustee Dan Kelly, who voted against the budget in December.
‘We let the supervisor and the administration off the hook,? Kelly said.
Kelly, Wenger and Trustee Dan Travis voted against the budget amendments. Wagner, Clerk Shelagh Vanderveen, and Trustees Larry Rosso and Charles Dunn voted in favor.
Check out this website for updates, and the Clarkston News for more details.