Story posted Thursday, July 2, 2009
Township Supervisor Not Worried About $1 Million Road Deficit
Palatine Township trustees on June 22 approved a road and bridge budget showing a nearly $1 million deficit, but the supervisor does not believe the township will spend that much. "As budgeting goes, it's a guideline," said Supervisor Linda Fleming. "It's not that he (Highway Commissioner John Powers) intends to spend it."
The township's road and bridge fund shows a beginning balance of $2.2 million. The township expects revenues of about $1.5 million, including nearly $1.3 million in property taxes. However, expenses in the budget total $2.4 million. Those expenses include about $770,000 in personnel costs and another $1.1 million for maintenance services and contractual work.
Fleming explained that during the last year, the highway commissioner had to amend the budget to pay for a road project when a grant did not arrive in a timely manner. The grant later came in, but the necessary steps could have slowed the process. With this budget, all work is included, even though some of the projects have the possibility of reimbursement through grants, Fleming said.
It also gives the township some insurance in case of needed emergency repairs.
"He might need to redo a road or two that weren't in the plan," she said.
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