Township trustees approve $25 million budget

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Township Trustees unanimously approved the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget of $24.9 million at their meeting on Monday, March 14.

The 2022-2023 fiscal year runs from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023.

Supervisor Dani Walsh and finance director Jason Theis presented the annual budget, which includes projected revenues of $9.64 million in property taxes to the general fund, up 4.7 percent from the current budget; $5.5 million in transfers from other township funds; $4.4 million state revenue sharing; $1.6 million in revenues from the 48th District Court; and $1.3 million in rent.

Projected expenditures for fiscal year 2022-2023 include $4.2 million in salaries; $1.75 million to the 48th District Court; $1.1 million for professional services; and $12.1 million in capital outlay. The expense of $25.9 million for public safety is in the public safety fund budget, which will receive $25.9 million in property tax revenue.

A general millage of .9270 was approved, down from .9352 mills in 2021-2022. The 2021 tax levy raised $3,950 million; the 2022 tax levy is projected to raise $4,151 million.

Theis said there were changes to revenue projections since the preliminary budget was presented, notably that the original taxable value projection of $4.4 billion increased to $4.45 billion, which equated to about $475,000 of additional revenue. Expected court revenue decreased by $100,000, and EMS transport fees increased by $50,000.

He said there were $900,000 in unanticipated costs new to this budget to maintain the stormwater assets due to record rainfall in 2021, which led to the discovery that these were the township's responsibility to identify, assess, repair, replace as necessary and maintain.

As for the township's long-term liabilities and debt, Theis said the defined benefit pension plan was funded 93.44 percent by March 31, 2021, with a 2022-2023 pension contribution of $5 million. The OPEB (other post-employment benefits) trust was 21.29 percent funded by March 31, 2021, with a 2022-2023 contribution of $1.25 million.

He reported that, following pandemic closure, senior services was striving to “get back to normal.”

Millage renewals will be upcoming in fiscal year 2022-23 for public safety 4, safety path and senior services.