Cheboygan Tribune-Editorial Page-March 14, 2014
Concerning action by township board
Action taken by the Mullett Township Board of Trustees recently on passing an unbalanced budget should be concerning for the citizens. Even though there were assurances given everything will be fine, it always is best to make cuts now on projects that can hold and add them later if the money comes in. This is not a good position for any entity to be in and can end up costing taxpayers more in the end if fund reserves are used up.
Action taken by the Mullett Township Board of Trustees recently on passing an unbalanced budget should be concerning for the citizens. Even though there were assurances given everything will be fine, it always is best to make cuts now on projects that can hold and add them later if the money comes in. This is not a good position for any entity to be in and can end up costing taxpayers more in the end if fund reserves are used up.
The preceding editorial comment was based on the Cheboygan Tribune's 3/7/2014 report of the Mullett Township 2014/2015 Budget Hearing. Here it is:
TOPINABEE — The Mullett Township Board of Trustees passed a budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 with expenses outweighing revenues at its regular meeting Tuesday at the Mullett Township Hall.
Mary Anne Gale voiced her concern that the budget has expenses of $660,015 and estimated revenues in the general fund of $330,970. Gale said she was worried that money would have to be taken out of reserve to cover the shortfall, and the reserve was necessary to have in case millages weren't passed.
“I don't think that I probably exerted enough fiscal responsibility in looking at that and even understanding until we get down and add up all the numbers the severity of how much we're over,” said Gale.
“I ran the figures, we're going to be fine,” said clerk Rachel Osborn. Board discussion indicated the budget often reflects expenses that are higher than what is eventually realized.
The board considered cutting some projects from the budget, but eventually passed the budget as presented unanimously with trustee John Brown absent from the meeting.
All of the Board Members had received an email prior to the Mullett Township 2014/2015 Budget Hearing expressing my concerns with the proposed deficit spending. They chose to ignore those concerns. Knowing the general apathy in Mullett Township and Topinabee exhibited by residents, the Board passed a proposed budget that can now be law be used to spend twice the revenue expected for the fiscal year. Shame on them, shame on us.
