Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STEVEN BOYD'S chair sits empty during a special meeting to address the Ironwood Township 2017 budget on Dec. 23. Boyd fell off a ladder and missed the meeting, but the board continued the mission and accepted all the budget appropriations. Seated from left are Bev Michaels, Marlene Saari, Maria Graser, Mary Segalin, Kevin Lyons and Bernie Brunello.
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood Township - The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees adopted a $910,700 2017 budget on Dec. 23, mostly unchanged from this year.
The budget includes general appropriations and water, wastewater and special grant funds.
Trustee Kevin Lyons discussed the idea of opting of out Public Act 152 before a motion to do so passed. The government sets a ceiling on the amount of money that can be spent to cover the health care of employees. The township has always opted out of the mandated ceiling, so Lyons briefed the board and public on where the township sits regarding the cap.
The township has five people on the rolls, which sets the cap allowed around $72,000. Factoring in the additional costs and expenses the township incurs to provide coverage, they still fall about $5,600 below the hard cap.
The budget amendments and salary resolution for 2017 were adopted and the meeting adjourned.
The preliminary 2017 approved general budget is $910,700. This is just under $13,000 less than 2016. Approved expenses against the general fund are $910,618, which leaves $82 in the black.
In 2016, the township adopted a similar budget that also left $82.
The proposed water fund budget for 2017 is $381,700, which is $1,000 higher than the 2016 adopted budget. The income includes money from water, interest, and miscellaneous income.
The approved expenses and services totals $376,341, leaving the township with $5,359 after expenses and bills are paid, which would be $91 more than in 2016.
The proposed sewer fund budget is $268,200 for 2017. Sewer expenses the township expects to pay are $267,650, with $550 left over, which is $225 less than in 2016.
