By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Howard Township board members adopted a proposed budget for 2006-07 and approved 5 percent salary increases, the first raise in three years.
The salary increases passed by a 4 to 2 vote with Trustee Shelby Farmer absent from voting at the time.
The new salaries are for supervisor, $14,208; clerk and treasurer, $12,804 each; and trustees, $11,376 for four of them.
Voting in favor of the raises were Treasurer Shaune Timm, Clerk Shirley Tuttle, Supervisor Michael Sutherland and Trustee Irving Frost Jr. Voting against it were Trustees George Johnson Jr. and Mike Richmond.
The budget adopted showed a beginning fund balance of $350,000 with revenues totaling $720,481 and expenses of $635,168. A projected beginning fund balance for next year was $435,000.
The budget was corrected to meet all criteria of the state statutes as outlined in the state audit presented to the board in January. The 2005-06 budget adopted was not balanced, did not contain beginning or ending fund balances and was initially prepared with a deficit balance. According to state auditor Derek Hall, the state directed the township to comply with the state law and to take action to ensure that the budget is balanced.
Cass County Commissioner Johnie Rodebush questioned if there was anything in writing from the state auditor and was told by office assistant Terri Ernsberger that corrections and comments were made by e-mail and telephone with Hall. Ernsberger, who worked on the budget, said, “We fixed everything.” She said individual budgets were set up for every budgeted item such as the police budget, roads, parks, street lights and fire department.
Sutherland said now there is one checkbook and checks are written from it. This was done also by directive of Derek who said things must be done according to the Uniform Chart of Accounts.
The budget was adopted after a public hearing by 6 to 1. Voting against the budget was Trustee Shelby Farmer. She refused to comment why she voted no.
The board also approved Western Insurance Agency as its carrier, Derek Hall as auditor, Hadsell, Landgraf, Lynch &Drew as attorneys, and Ron Fazi as fire chief.