Brandon Twp.- In a move to save approximately $150,000 annually by 2011, the township board approved a series of motions regarding the budget at their March 16 meeting.
The motions included restructuring of staff in both the clerk’s and supervisor’s offices effective upon retirement of current long-time employees, a reduction in the 2009 recreation budget, as well as voluntary pay reductions for the treasurer, supervisor, and trustees. A major component of the savings plan recommended by the budget committee, a change in healthcare coverage for township employees, has been put on hold pending additional research.
‘I was pleased that the budget committee was able to meet our goals,? said Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman. ‘I don’t believe there will be a detriment to township services.?
Trustee Tom Stowell, joined on the budget committee by Treasurer Terry Beltramo, Trustee Charlene Carlson, and retired Fire Chief Bob McArthur, agreed.
‘Our goal was to not impact service to township residents and I think we will have achieved that goal,? Stowell said. ‘Things are happening over a year to 18 months to allow us to take advantage of restructuring when people retire and not make any changes abruptly. There are no layoffs planned, not at this point. We were hoping to avoid that and we did.?
The budget committee recommended, and the board approved, the following motions:
A park development grant moratorium, effective immediately, that will halt applications for park development grants that require a significant cash match from township revenues;
Centralizing purchase of office supplies to one location;
Bringing payroll in-house to save $2,000-$3,000 in the first year, and $8,000 annually thereafter;
A voluntary 2.5 percent pay reduction by the treasurer, taking effect Jan. 1, 2010. Beltramo will also waive the $2,000 stipend he receives for not enrolling in the township health care plan, with a combined estimated savings of $3,307;
A voluntary 2 percent pay reduction by the supervisor, also effective Jan. 1, with an estimated annual savings of $1,110;
A voluntary pay reduction by the four trustees to accept $93 per meeting instead of their current $97 per meeting, effective Jan. 1, for a savings of $800 annually (based on an average of 45 meetings per year);
Restructuring of staff in the supervisor’s office, effective upon retirement of Deputy Supervisor Mary Kassuba, to change the position from full-time to part-time with estimated savings of $15,000 annually;
Restructuring of the clerk’s office with a one-time estimated savings of $10,000 in 2009, eliminating the full-time deputy clerk position, and replacing it with a full-time administrative assistant position. Former Deputy Clerk Susan Nassar vacated the position in February and Clerk Jeannie McCreery plans to achieve these savings by not hiring an administrative assistant until June;
Part-time staff for the clerk’s office to save $33,000 annually in salary, benefits, and longevity, effective upon retirement of Elections Assistant/Human Resources Coordinator Karen McArthur, to be replaced by a part-time election coordinator, as well as a second part-time position;
A budget amendment effective immediately to reduce the 2009 recreation budget? in the 508 budget decreasing part-time office help from $5,000 to $500; technology from $3,000 to $1,000; advertising from $3,000 to $2,000; and office supplies from $3,500 to $2,500; and in the 101 budget, decreasing office supplies from $1,000 to $800 and operating supplies from $2,000 to $1,700; and elimination of a meeting stipend for the recreation director effective Jan. 1, resulting in an estimated savings of $2,160.
The board also approved further study of the possibility of moving health care coverage for employees and retirees paid from the general fund budget from the current Blue Cross plans (PPO) to Blue Care Network (HMO), saving the township an estimated $85,000, or possibly another health insurance provider
‘We are looking at answering questions that came up,? said Stowell. ‘If we change to an HMO, how it would affect vision and dental coverage… We need to make sure we’ve examined all the possible savings, which include HMO and other options.?
If the township opts for an HMO plan, Stowell noted that employees and retirees could possibly be forced to switch doctors. He also explained that in an HMO, referrals are needed for specialized care and are limited to carriers within the HMO system. A recommendation on healthcare by the committee is expected by July 1 and would be implemented next January.
‘Our carry forward amount has been decreasing, revenues have been decreasing, and we don’t want to be in a position where we can’t meet our monthly responsibilities, so the budget cuts are necessary,? Stowell said. ‘Most of the cuts will take place next year.?