Brief: Township Board Talks Cutting Costs at Special Budget Meeting

Every little bit helps. That was the tenor of the West Bloomfield Township Board's first special budget meeting in determining the 2012 budget, as they met in Thursday afternoon.

The board reviewed five different operating fund budgets, perhaps the most debated of which being the public safety fund operating costs budget. In June, the township board unanimously voted to ask residents in a special election Nov. 8 to approve 2.85 mills to fund public safety over the course of 11 years in addition to renewing the the current rate of 3.14, which expires with the 2011 levy for the 2012 budget, over the course of 10 years.

Since then, the board has unanimously, enthusiastically remained in support of both the renewal vote and the additional millage. As township government and public safety officials campaign to ask residents to vote on paying more in taxes, those officials scrupulously analyze the budget.

"Every little bit helps," said Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste, who suggested to Chief Michael Patton that the be careful about idling police vehicles simply in order to keep critical electronics running, due to rising fuel prices. Patton replied that WBPD officers have been notified to do just as much, while new technology may soon allow police vehicles to do just that without destroying the battery in the process.

"We're always doing more with less, including electing not to fill positions which are not necessary at this time," Patton said. WBPD will elect not to fill a parking enforcement officer position this year, as part of the budget.

A list of budgets reviewed today can be found on the agenda. The township's next special budget meeting is Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.