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Fiscal watch criteria not met in Boardman
TweetWith no carryover at the end of this year, Boardman must have a balanced budget for 2010.
By Denise Dick
BOARDMAN — The township does not meet the criteria for fiscal watch — at least not yet.
For several years, though, the township has been spending more money than it takes in, relying on carryover from the previous year’s budget to fill the gap. By law, an analysis by the state auditor’s office can examine only the current fiscal year.
“As of the end of 2009, the township doesn’t fall into fiscal watch,” Nita Hendryx of the state auditor’s office told trustees and members of the public at a meeting Wednesday.
The township has no carryover going into 2010, however, said Hendryx, chief project manager of the auditor’s local government services divisions.
The fiscal analysis presented was a draft document, so changes could be made. The analysis covered the general fund.
“You can see what the trend has been,” Hendryx said, pointing to the difference between revenue and expenditures. “This kind of gives you a picture.”
The report means the township will have to pass a balanced budget for 2010, said Trustee Chairman Larry Moliterno.
“This could be a positive,” he said.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first time trustees heard the report too.
Moliterno said the first step is to determine what the budget will be for 2010.
Hendryx said that 85 percent of the township’s budget is personal services, referring to personnel, including salary and overtime.
“Salaries and overtime really are a driving force in the budget,” she said.
That’s not an unusual percentage compared to other communities, said Trustee Robyn Gallitto, because communities provide services.
“It’s not unusual, but it’s something to keep in mind as you move forward,” Hendryx said.
Though the township doesn’t meet fiscal watch this year, it will face a deficit by next year, she said.
Township officials requested the fiscal analysis in March, citing the toll on finances caused by the downturn in the economy, high foreclosure rates and the reduction in personal property tax with the implementation of the commercial-activity tax.
The commercial-activity tax is an annual privilege tax measured by gross receipts for all types of businesses in Ohio: retailers, service providers (such as lawyers, accountants and doctors), manufacturers and others. Over time, it’s replacing money generated by personal property taxes.
For years the township relied on its inheritance tax, money received from the estates of residents who have died, to meet its budget. Over time, that money has dried up.
After voters rejected a 4.1-mill levy in 2007, about 30 full-time township employees, including nine firefighters, were laid off, and one fire station was closed.
Last fall, voters passed a 2.2-mill police and fire levy expected to generate about $2 million annually. In promoting the levy, township officials pledged to hire up to 10 police officers, recall laid-off firefighters and maintain three fire stations.
One police officer has been hired. The police department, which totaled 63 a few years ago, is down to 47.
Six of the nine furloughed firefighters were recalled after levy passage, but one has since resigned and another firefighter died, leaving that department with fewer personnel too.
Last month, the township announced it would close one of the two outlying fire stations on a rotating basis to control overtime costs. Firefighters being off because they were injured on duty contributed to that department’s overtime, officials have said.
denise_dick@vindy.com
Comments
Now wait a minute - was it really only a few days ago that the focus was on Leicht and his inability to produce realistic answers to financial questions? The trustees were claiming they didn't have the numbers, so they couldn't do their jobs? Now here they are right back into their old routine - wanting the unions to give, give, give, when just yesterday the trustees admitted they don't even know WHAT the financial picture really is.
How about if someone audits MORE than just the general fund? Weren't we told that the township would have to borrow $3 million last year (which they did, and paid it back promptly) and $1 million next year? What happened in the meantime? Did any departments go on a hiring spree? Did the township incur any huge expenses? WHERE'S THE MONEY???
And one other question - what ever happened to that ambulance the fire department wanted to start? You remember - the one that would have generated about $500,000 profit in the first year?
Generated $500,000 profit? You've got ambulance companies closing down because they can't turn a profit now with employees making far less and equipment already purchased and yet Boardman can somehow profit in that space? More BS from NoBS.
Obviously NoBS can't read a state audit. There isn't any money left! The township will have ZERO carry over for 2010 and in fact will end 2009 with a deficit. (Which of course by state law they can't deficit spend) So more cutbacks will have to be made. On top of that 2010 should be a fun year for the new trustees with the magic wands who will be able to undo all those giveaway contracts and magically make Boardman whole again!
New trustees are gonna fix this mess......ROTFLMAO! How, wave a magic wand and make 5 million dollars appear! There are 2 options. More taxes or less spending. Do ya think the unions are gonna wanna give back some money? Do you think the taxpayers are gonna wanna pony up another few mils after the last levy lasted less than a year and the promise of new police officers wasn't fulfilled? I kept telling you so and you guys kept saying I was wrong. How about a new substation? Cook some more clearance? A few more take home cars perhaps? The giveaways of Christmas past trustees are coming home to roost. Spending all that inheritance money instead of saving for a rainy day. Building in a cost structure based on funny money. Voodoo economics at its finest. I shouldn't say I told you so but I told you so.
Oh, and by not getting into fiscal watch tonight, guess who gets their $500 dollar bonuses??? Yup, the patrolmen. Even facing financial meltdown, the giveaways continue. Will the patrolmen man up and refuse the bonuses? Didn't think so.
85% of the total income to the township goes out in wages and benefits. That doesn't leave all that much leeway to cut elsewhere.
The most entertaining part of the evening though was watching the blank stares when the DRS guy tried to explain VMware and the server consolidation. I wonder if that contract is going to be put out for bid? Or are they simply gonna drop almost 80K on the word of DRS? Oh how the valley is soooooo computer savvy! LOL.
>"The most entertaining part of the evening though was watching the blank stares when the DRS guy tried to explain VMware and the server consolidation. I wonder if that contract is going to be put out for bid? Or are they simply gonna drop almost 80K on the word of DRS? Oh how the valley is soooooo computer savvy! LOL."
Sounds to me like another computer dork with an ax to grind. If you have a valid point then make it. If not keep your hands out of your pants and refrain from focusing all of your energy on boardman and their computer issues.
As far as the new trustees I dont think the job comes with a magic wand. They would probably have to pull it out of the old trustees a** in the first place. Things won't change immediately but give them time to work on what the old trustees did to boardman already and im sure we'll see a difference. As inteligent as you make yourself come off I would have assumed that you of all people know that the problems couldn't be fixed right away by anyone including the new trustees. Or the old ones for that matter. It will take time to undo what those select few have done. Good luck boardman. When one community succeeds so does the rest. Its called our local economy.
Ahhh, glad to see the usual suspects attacking me as usual. An axe to grind, LOL. Yeah, I'm so disappointed they didn't hire me to be IT coordinator so I could take a massive pay cut. LOL.
Funny, how the village idiots like LOL can attack computer "dorks" like me while the rest of the world embraces us "dorks" and prospers. Is there any wonder why the valley is so economically stunted?
Leicht also made a statement last night that seems to not have gotten heard. Evidently the state's projections that they used in the audit are more generous than the projections he (Leicht) used. Does that mean the township is really in worse shape than the state said last night?
>LOL said: If you have a valid point then make it. If not keep your hands out of your pants and refrain from focusing all of your energy on boardman and their computer issues.<
Typical valley response. Probably a union member.
I did make a point though. Are they going to just drop 80K on a project that nobody even understands? Or are they going to do their fiscal responsibility and put it out for bid and see if DRS is overcharging? Maybe look into outsourcing their total IT department? Maybe that could save them money AND provide them a better service!
It was in January of 2006 when the topic of take-home cars was brought up:
http://www.boardmantwp.com/trustees/M...
Two years later, amidst the discourse of financial problems, all of these equipment purchases are authorized:
http://www.boardmantwp.com/trustees/M...
Fiscal responsibility?
Audit finding - Employees making 20K more than peer communities. At over 100 employees that equates to at least 2 million dollars. There is the problem.
Ha ha! I got the top position, before apollo could post his Boardman-hate.
Look, Billy-boy, the FD said they could generate $500K - I say they should have been given the chance to show they could do it. What could it hurt - they said there was virtually no initial cash outlay. What are you, and the trustees, afraid of? Afraid they'll be right?
What's the alternative? It's what's going on right now - "Oh, gosh, we got no money, we'll have to slash services and beg for more tax money!" They were given a revenue source, and they ignored it, yet they cry about no money coming in.
Finally, "Mister It's-All-About-You" who the heck said anything about your hoping and begging for Boardman's IT job, and yournot getting it, and your subsequent (10 years now and you're still crying about it) endless whining over it. Why did you even bring it up? It still bothers you, that's why.
What bothers me ALLBS is that the township hired an IT neophyte and told the citizens she had 15 years of IT experience. All lies. They got 70 resumes and the best they could hire was someone fresh out of IT school. What bothers me is your hero Patterson placed an IT ad that was completely bogus. What bothers me is Patterson pushed to open a substation that was a waste of taxpayers money trying to get Costello reelected. What bothers me is union contracts that gave away 40+ million in inheritance tax windfalls that are now bankrupting the township.
There is NO WAY starting an ambulance service would generate a dime. No start up costs? Bullcrap! Just another scam by the fire fighters union to make themselves less likely to be laid off.
What bothers me is idiots like you who even after the state says we are bankrupt can't do anything except bash me. Even after I've been proven right time after time. But, I suspect your ties to the township and unions prevents you from telling the truth.
MAKE CHANGE!!!
GET RID OF GALLITTO AND MILLER!!!!!
Aren't they the ones who ran with the platform of fiscal responsibility???????
TIME TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND LOSE YOUR JOBS GIRLS.
DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON YOUR WAY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apollo wrote: 'What bothers me is Patterson pushed to open a substation that was a waste of taxpayers money trying to get Costello reelected.'
And how about that one at Market and Midlothian that the current board blessed in Oct. 2008, the one which was, according to Chief Berarducci, to serve as a "visual reminder to criminals of our resolve?"
Tug, I think the one at Market and Midlothian is at least a better location but I will agree that neither station really prevents crime one bit. I doubt the criminals entering from Youngstown see the substations and turn around. But those North siders carry a lot of influence.
With the vengeance, the contradictions, the acting without any clear compass and sailing with the political winds in mind, I am looking forward to reading what the editorial board has to say regarding this Trustee election.
Whatever, Billy-Boy.
I said what I wanted to say - responding to your hate-filled rants would be a waste of time, because you're all talk and no listen. Or, if you do listen, you're incapable of understanding the information you're given.
Have a nice life, loser.