Summary
The Solon Township Board held a budget meeting on March 20, 2025, to review revenues and expenditures and finalize the proposed 2025-2026 fiscal year budget. The board approved the agenda, vouchers, several per diem increases for township boards and commissions, the formation of a new five-member Parks Commission, amendments to the 2024-2025 budget to cover line items that exceeded their allocations, and the proposed 2025-2026 budget. All motions passed by a vote of 5-0.
Public Comments
Supervisor Comeaux announced that public comments would be limited to two minutes and required speakers to state their name and address.
- Linda Ackley Eaker asked what numbers and documents the board would be working from. Supervisor Comeaux responded that this was not a question-and-answer session but noted, as a courtesy, that the figures were included in the board's packet and that all budgets are available online.
- Kim Smith stated she had researched surrounding townships and thanked the board for keeping Solon Township's millage rates low.
No public comments were made during the second public comment period near the end of the meeting.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The board discussed several parks-related budget items, including Vlack's Park/Road Closure, benches, the Solon Park Road/Fence, trees along the Solon Park/River area, and parks maintenance and wages.
- Motion by Steve Morgan, seconded by Kelly Claar, to form a five-member Parks Commission, with members paid $110.00 per diem and the chair paid $130.00 per diem. Motion carried 5-0. The new Parks Commission is budgeted at $10,000.00.
- Parks Maintenance budget was increased from $35,000.00 to $40,000.00.
- Parks Improvements budget was increased from $35,000.00 to $40,000.00.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Steve Morgan, to approve a new Parks Improvement Fund budgeted at $20,000.00. Motion carried 5-0.
- Shirley Mikowski recommended increasing maintenance and deputies' pay from $20.00 per hour to $25.00 per hour.
Infrastructure Projects
The Cedar River Marina Project fund was listed with an anticipated amount of $25,219.86, though it was noted this is not a township fund. Sidewalks/Roads budget remained at $5,000.00, and the Road Improvement Fund was increased from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00. The Sidewalk Fund balance was reported at $19,960.04. A District Assessment of approximately $24,000.00 was noted as a possible township obligation and was budgeted accordingly.
Other Business
- Motion by Shirley Mikowski, seconded by Joan Gauthier, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Kelly Claar, to approve vouchers for payment. Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Steve Morgan, seconded by Shirley Mikowski, to increase the Planning Commission per diem to $110.00 for members and $130.00 for the chair. Motion carried 5-0. The Planning Commission budget was decreased from $14,000.00 to $10,000.00.
- Motion by Steve Morgan, seconded by Kelly Claar, to increase the Zoning Board of Appeals per diem to $110.00 for members and $130.00 for the chair. Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Steve Morgan, to budget $1,000.00 for compliance with the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Steve Morgan, to amend the 2024-2025 budget by transferring funds from the General Fund to cover line items that exceeded their budgeted amounts. Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Steve Morgan, to approve the proposed 2025-2026 budget. Motion carried 5-0.
- Motion by Joan Gauthier, seconded by Kelly Claar, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:53 P.M.
Financial Summary
Key revenue figures for 2024-2025 and adjustments for 2025-2026 include:
- State Revenue Sharing: received $166,866.00; budgeted decreased from $170,000.00 to $165,000.00.
- Hall rental: received $2,725.00; budgeted increased from $1,500.00 to $2,000.00.
- Township Tax: received $59,872.18; budgeted decreased from $72,000.00 to $70,000.00.
- Taxes Interest Earned: received $298.33; budgeted increased from $25.00 to $1,500.00.
- Swamp Tax: collected $2,997.30; budget remained at $2,900.00.
- Local Comm Stab Share Tax/PPT: received $678.88; budget remained at $600.00.
- Cemetery revenue: received $1,300.00; budgeted decreased from $2,000.00 to $1,000.00.
- Permits and Fees: collected $11,875.00; budgeted increased from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00.
- Fire and Ambulance Operation Millage (2.50 mills): collected $345,014.27; budget remained at $358,000.00.
- Interest received: $14,524.26; budgeted increased from $4,000.00 to $10,000.00.
- Metro Act Fund: received $0.00; budgeted increased from $1,500.00 to $2,000.00.
- State Education Tax: received $3,380.00; budgeted increased from $3,200.00 to $3,300.00.
- 1% Administration Fee: received $33,226.27; budgeted increased from $32,000.00 to $34,000.00.
- Total estimated receipts for 2025-2026: $660,300.00. Actual funds available: $539,234.98.
Other Funds: Road Improvement $20,529.79; Fire Sinking $159,757.30; Sidewalk Fund $19,960.04; Total Other Funds $200,247.13. Total anticipated income for 2025-2026: $1,199,534.98. Additional funds noted: ARPA Funds $9,000.66; Parks and Recreation $17,260.14; Cedar River Marina Project $25,219.86 (not a township fund).
Estimated expenses for 2025-2026 include (pending approval at the Annual Meeting for salary items):
- Supervisor Salary increased from $10,000.00 to $14,000.00.
- Clerk Salary increased from $22,000.00 to $25,000.00.
- Deputy Clerk decreased from $2,000.00 to $1,000.00.
- Treasurer Salary increased from $18,000.00 to $21,000.00.
- Trustee Board Salaries increased from $4,500.00 to $6,500.00; trustee per diem increased from $115.00 to $135.00.
- Public Utilities increased from $12,000.00 to $13,500.00.
- Advertising increased from $3,000.00 to $4,000.00.
- Miscellaneous increased from $1,000.00 to $2,500.00.
- Zoning Administrator salary increased from $24,000.00 to $35,000.00; new Zoning Administrator Operating budgeted at $5,000.00; new ESTA line item budgeted at $1,000.00.
- Cemetery Operating increased from $10,000.00 to $14,000.00 to cover costs of filling closed roads for additional lots.
- Hall Lights increased from $1,500.00 to $1,600.00; Hall Gas increased from $4,000.00 to $4,500.00; Hall Operating increased from $5,000.00 to $6,000.00; new Hall Renovations budgeted at $60,000.00.
- Pension increased from $8,000.00 to $9,000.00.
- Elections decreased from $20,000.00 to $5,000.00.
- Insurance increased from $11,000.00 to $13,000.00.
- Township Annual Support of Fire and Ambulance (2.50 mills) increased from $326,993.77 (including $25,517.10 capital outlay) to $346,044.31 (including $28,068.81 capital outlay).
- Total anticipated operating expenses for 2025-2026: $759,144.31.
- Contingency Fund remained at $5,000.00.
The board noted that total anticipated income and total operating expenses will be further adjusted after all bills are paid and income is received.
Action Items
- Salary increases for Supervisor, Clerk, and Treasurer are pending approval at the Annual Meeting.
- Final budget figures for anticipated income and operating expenses will be adjusted after all bills are paid and income is received.
- The newly formed five-member Parks Commission is to be established, with per diem rates set for members and chair.
- The township may need to pay a District Assessment of approximately $24,000.00, which has been budgeted in anticipation.