November 12, 2007

The budget meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held in the 
Township office, was called to order at 0827 hours by Chairman John Sachar.  
Present were Sachar, Gary Truitt and David Henderson.

RESOLUTION #8 OF 2007
WINTER 2007-2008 SNOWPLOWING
(see file for complete resolution)
In part the resolution transfers the Township’s snowplowing duties for the winter 
of 2007-2008 to Washington Township.  Franklin Township agrees to commit 
$15,000 of its snowplowing budget to reimburse Washington Township for the 
use of their labor for plowing and equipment repair; and, equipment, fuel and 
operating costs for their equipment that might be used on our roads.

Henderson – if we want future cooperation with Washington Township they will 
have to do the plowing right.  Our employees are good with the decision. 

Henderson moved to adopt resolution #8 of 2007 in its entirety to begin 
immediately.  Truitt seconded.  Carried.

REVENUES
Henderson presented the proposed budget for review.  There will be no tax 
increase for 2008.  Millage will remain at 2.8 mills: 0.566 mills general fund; 
0.157 mills fire department fund; 0.131 mills municipal building fund; 0.302 mills 
equipment fund; 1.30 mills gravel fund; 0.344 mills permanent improvement fund.  
Real estate tax is estimated to bring in $204,400; EIT tax $121,500; local 
services tax $3,750.

Henderson – Russell Standard is moving their operations to Union City so local 
services tax was reduced by $2,000 and this year we will only receive three 
quarters of tax.  Next year we will receive the full four quarters.  The change is 
from the way the tax is collected.

Sachar – how will their move affect Falls and Francis maintenance?

Henderson – if they move out, we will be responsible for the maintenance.  Liquid 
fuel is up by 10% this year and County liquid fuel is up by a modest amount.

Girard Gravel Pit – Mr. Summerville wants to keep the pit open but he has not 
used it for several years.  Henderson moved to direct our Solicitor to start 
proceedings to terminate our lease with Mr. Summerville.  Sachar seconded.  
Carried.

Grants/Fire Ponds/LUPTAP – Fire pond grant is expected to be $24,540; 
LUPTAP grant is expected to be $6,000.

EXPENSES
Discussion was held on various line items.

History Grant - Dave said that he is looking for someone to produce the DVD’s 
and put money in the budget for programming and old photo reproduction.

Tax Collection – percentage paid for collection remains at 3% for real estate; 
4% for EIT and LST.

Data Processing – a new computer will be purchased to replace the one in the 
secretary’s office.

Building and Grounds – heating bills were reduced some by lowering the 
temperature in the truck bays.  Dave feels that everyone’s electric bills will double 
(a conservative estimate) when the electric rate cap comes off in two years.  

Planning and Zoning – includes $12,000 for the rewrite of the Zoning 
Ordinance; $6,000 will come back from the LUPTAP grant.

Snow and Ice Removal – we will use existing anti-skid this year.  Next year we 
will have to buy shot gravel.  $15,000 of the $19,000 in the budget will go to 
Washington Township for winter care of the roads.

Signs and Sign Posts – this line item could be considerably less if our road 
signs were not being stolen.  Discussion was held on how to prevent theft of the 
signs.

Bridges and Under Road Pipes – the Township has a total of 184 cross pipes; 
7 have failed and 34 are in poor shape.  Discussion was held on pipes that need 
to be replaced in 2008 not including the large pipes on Francis and Eureka.

Henderson – this line item is very under-funded due to the expense of those two 
large pipes and the number that are in poor condition.  Francis pipe is estimated 
at $126,000; Eureka pipe is estimated at $80,000.  Plans are for the County 
liquid fuel amount to be used for cross-pipe replacement.

Repairs to Equipment – Dave said that the Tiger mower is getting tired and 
mowing is our most expensive operation.  Discussion was held on equipment 
costs and replacement time schedule.  We will replace the scarifier moldboard 
cutting edge, rake teeth and buy a new cutting edge for the back of the Hough 
bucket this year.

Gravel Program – plans are to gravel 4.42 miles of roads in 2008 at a cost of 
$101,900 to $103,642.  Dave stated that miles graveled depends on the cost of 
diesel fuel.

Employee Benefits – budget includes a 2.4% cost-of-living adjustment.  
Cafeteria plan will be $198/month.  Mileage as adjusted from time to time by the 
IRS is .485 cents per mile.

The total balanced budget is $525,424 with one-time large revenues; $491,655 
without one-time large revenues.

Unfunded Needs – the following is a list of unfunded needs and the estimated 
cost:  West Stancliff at I-79, $8,	767; Paint Township Building Roofs, $14,400; 
Paint Township Building Side Walls, $5,592; Gravel Two Miles of Road in a 6-
Year Rotation, (presently in an 8-year rotation, excluding our labor costs) 
$50,800; Equipment Replacement, $23,663; Pipe Replacement, $254,741; Fire 
Department, (replaces fund raising) $35,000.  Total unfunded needs = $392,963 
or 5.38 mills.

This problem is not unique to this Township.  All municipalities are facing the 
same type of problems.

Sachar moved to approve the 2008 tentative budget for advertising with a 
tentative adoption date of December 11, 2007.  Henderson seconded.  Carried.

The Board noted that it appreciates the efforts of David Henderson for preparing 
the 2008 balanced budget.

ADJOURN
Sachar called the meeting adjourned at 1020 hours.

Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary