Salary adjustments and 3 road
maintenance projects approved
By Bruce Rolfe
The Charleston Township Board approved the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget just over $50,000 higher then the recently completed budget at its regular meeting March 26.
In what Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said was a first, the township realized a decrease in population of 64 residents, meaning the township will receive less revenue sharing. The 2010 Census showed the township population at 1,965 and the 2020 Census shows the township population at 1,901.
The general fund revenues and expenditures in the new budget total $515,100, compared to the 2023-2024 general fund revenues and expenditures of $463,300.
The main reason for the slight increase is a $54,800 transfer from savings into the road budget that is anticipated to go towards a future costly road project estimated to cost $511,586.
A nearly one mile (0.97 mile) project for gravel, pulverize, and HMA base paving, will take place 5,100 feet from the northern part of 38th St. to G Avenue and is anticipated to be part of the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget.
Another large increase in revenues comes from an anticipated property tax revenue total of $121,100, an increase of $8,300 over the 2023-2024 budget. Vander Roest said the increase was driven mostly by a 5 percent increase all property owners in the state received and new property purchases in the township that uncaps property tax values.
Because there was a cost of living increase of 3.9 percent, all township salaried positions received a 4 percent increase. The trustee salaries will go from $3,800 to $4,000; the supervisor salary will be adjusted to $37,534.07; the clerk salary will increase to $40,984.07; the deputy clerk salary will increase from $5,900 to $7,900; the treasurer salary will increase to $37,534.07; and Fire Board salaries will increase from $1,800 to $2,400.
There was one sharp reduction in capital expenditures from $30,400 in the recently expired budget to $7,000 in the new budget because the new additions and renovations to the township hall have been completed.
The Public Safety budget revenues and expenditures is $156,400. There is a jump in expenditures from $98,900 to $107,500 for daily fire department operations and to replace expired tires on Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department vehicles, which Vander Roest said cost $700 each. The township also placed $45,900 into the restricted capital fund for a future fire truck purchase.
The 1.5 mill for public safety raises $156,400.
The Road Fund budget revenues and expenditures is $214,700.
Road projects scheduled for the current fiscal year include:
• 38th Street, 2840 feet south of MN Avenue to MN Avenue - crack fill and chip seal for an estimated cost of $29,359.
• Climax Drive from Streamside Drive to 1000 feet west of Streamside Drive - crack fill for an estimated cost of $2,852.
• HJ Avenue from 36th Street to 37th Street - crack fill, HMA wedging and chip seal for an estimated cost of $82,277.
The Township’s PAR funds have increased from $47,500 to $56,600.
The Sewer Fund revenues and expenditures is $74,000. Vander Roest said the sewer rate that was raised to $114 per quarter the township charges residents hooked into the sewer system, remains one of the lowest rates in the county. The rate increase was due to an increase in charge from the City of Kalamazoo for waste water treatment.
The water budget revenues and expenditures is $158,200, which is a decrease from the recently expired budget’s revenues and expenditures of $174,200.
Vander Roest said a $91,900 grant from the county will help pay for $161,900 in improvements to the water system. A new generator, new heaters and a new control panel for the water system are all part of the improvements. The generator will be installed this summer. Eaton and Target each provided $28,000 for the project.
Because the Fort Custer Military Training Center, the Fort Custer State Recreation Area, property that was annexed by the City of Galesburg, Cold Brook Park, and property owned by the G-A School District are government owned, 44 percent of the property in the township is tax exempt.
In other items covered at the March 26 meeting:
• The Township Board designated April 20, 2024 as the trash pick-up day.
• The Township Board appointed Alese LePert as Township Clerk as of April 1.
• Instead of the regular meeting date of the fourth Tuesday of the month, the April regular township meeting will be April 16 and the December township meeting will be held December 17 instead of Christmas eve.
• Starting in April, the 177th Regiment Regional Training Institute and Fort Custer Training Center - Michigan National Guard have partnered with Charleston Township to repair and restore the Lawler Cemetery fence. Also known as the Territorial Cemetery and Lone Pine Cemetery. The cemetery is located in the Fort Custer Military Training Center in Augusta. Other volunteers and organizations will be assisting with this project.
• On May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Charleston Township Hall, Road Commission of Kalamazoo County and MDOT representatives will offer a detailed explanation about the $1.4 million road project on MN Avenue and Mercury Drive that includes a curve realignment at MN and Mercury Drive. The RCKC will be mailing out an informational brochure to residents in the area about the meeting.
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