Budget won’t raise taxes

DOUGLASS (MONT.) >> The $3.8 million budget advertised by the township supervisors will not raise taxes in 2017.

According to Township Manager Peter Hiryak, the budget workshop undertaken Nov. 21 resulted in the decision to advertise the $3,796,000 budget as proposed.

In response to an email query, Hiryak wrote there is a $75,000 deficit between the projected revenues of $3,721,000 and the projected expenses of $3,796,000.

That budget gap will be filled by drawing down from the township’s $1.8 million cash reserve, Hiryak wrote.

The proposed 2017 budget includes what Hiryak described as a “very slight increase in spending of less than $20,000, depending on health insurance plan options.”

He wrote that the increase in health care costs is “a modest 7 percent,” but added that “the township is still consider-

ing other, less costly, health insurance options for nonuniform employees.”

Hiryak also confirmed that the township police department’s expenses of $1,991,000 comprise “approximately 55 percent of the general fund.”

Other budget highlights include a decision to forgo adding any additional employees or equipment in 2016; although the highway department will replace a pick-up truck and snowplow using state liquid fuel funds to cover the costs.

A roll-off container will also be purchased by the recycling department to transport cardboard and other recyclables, the costs for which will be paid out of the recycling account.

The budget can be inspected at the township building and adoption is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.