VBT Board postpones adoption of 2014 budget until Dec. 17 meeting

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
After lots of discussion and a request for detailed information on the more than $3 million for public safety department wages, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees agreed to postpone adoption of the 2014 proposed general fund budget until its next meeting on Dec. 17.
The amended general fund budget for 2013 will also be considered Dec. 17.
On Tuesday, the board held the public hearing on the budget that has to be held by Dec. 15. A balanced budget has to be adopted by the end of the year.
The 2013 amended and 2014 proposed budgets for all the special revenue funds were adopted on a 5-2 vote.
The proposed, balanced $13,657,027 general fund budget contains the supervisor’s full-time executive assistant, a new part-time Human Resources person, $2.8 million from the landfill fund and $400,000 from fund balance.