Mike Jones

Leaves
A & J Landscape Center, 8061 Sylvania Ave., has received the contract to help Sylvania Township crews during this season’s leaf collection. The firm submitted a bid of $515 per hour Rob Nash, superintendent of the township road and service department, told Sylvania Township trustees before they voted on the contract. It was the only company to submit a bid. Nash said A & J also was awarded the contract last year with a bid of $500 per hour.

Township personnel and equipment are used for the majority of leaf collection, but the department must call on a private contractor when there is an instance where a heavy leaf drop stretches township assets thin.

Leaf collection this year is scheduled to begin Oct. 17. The department intends to make three cycles through the township picking up leaves.

Budget

At the halfway point in Sylvania Township’s year, its budget is in good shape according to David Simko, the township’s fiscal officer.

Revenue for each of the four main budget categories is above 50 percent of what was expected and expenditures are below 50 percent of budgeted totals. The increase in expected revenue, after six months, is a result of an increase in county tax collections.

Keeping spending under 50 percent at the halfway point is the result of diligent department heads and all employees using discretion when spending on behalf of the township. Simko stated, “I think everyone has bought into the idea that it is taxpayer money. We need to be careful with it.”

In terms of revenue, the general fund has received $848,314 (52.8 percent of the amount anticipated); the road and bridge fund has received $1,363,476 (55 percent of what was expected); the policefund has gotten $4,072,668 (53.8 percent of anticipated revenue); and the fire fund has gotten $5,841,322 (50.98 of what was expected.)

Expenditures from the general fund were, for the six months, $860,314 (42.3 percent of what was budgeted); the road and bridge fund spent $915,271 (40.2 percent of its expected costs); the expenditures from the police fund were $3,588,837 (47 percent of what was anticipated); and the fire fund had expenditures of $5,841,322 (48.4 percent of its budget).

Simko noted that in the budget process senior township officials keep projected expenses tight. He added that he is aware of some places where projected costs can be inflated so that it is easy to stay within the budget. “We don’t do that. We make sure the budget adopted for the year is careful with spending and realistic. Because of that, I think keeping within the budget shows how important department heads, and all of our employees, take budget responsibility. They’ve all done a good job,” he said.