Bloomfield Township approves 2018-19 budget

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved a $45.4 million budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 at their meeting on Monday, March 12.

Jason Theis, township finance director, told trustees in presenting the budget, that it assumes an increase of four percent in taxable land value. However, Headlee rollbacks are expected to push the taxable value back below four percent. The millage rate for 2018-2019 will remain approximately the same at 9.75 mills, including general fund millage of 2.229 mills. The maximum millage for a charter township is 10 mills, said supervisor Leo Savoie.

Revenues are expected to increase from $32.1 million for property taxes in fiscal year 2017-2018 to $33.4 million for the upcoming year, which begins April 1 and goes through March 31, 2019.

Theis said state revenue sharing would remain about the same, at $3.5 million.

In addition to property taxes and state revenue sharing, the township will receive $1.8 million from the 48th District Court and $950,000 in franchise fees.

Primary expenditures include $28.2 million to public safety, funded by four public service millages, expiring at different times. Currently, these millages total 6.0517 mills.

General fund expenditures, at $10.7 million, include salaries, benefits and debt obligations. The road fund, $4.6 million of expenditures, pays for road repairs and maintenance. The township maintains 213 subdivision roads for snow removal. Theis said the millage for the road fund is .6963 mills, expiring in 2026.

Theis also noted the budget includes three elections to be held in the township in 2018. Wages are expected to increase by two percent for all full-time township employees, he said, for an added cost of $375,000.

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve the 2018-2019 budget.