MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township has a budget for 2021.
According to township trustee Scott McDonough, next year’s budget is $20,000 less than the 2020 budget.
The total 2021 budget is $2,072,870, which includes $160,027 for township expenses, $38,616 for township assistance, $1,550,000 for the fire department, $160,227 fire equipment debit and $164,000 for cumulative fire fund.
Madison Township Fire Chief Mike Lang said his 2021 budget has remained the same for three years. The only thing the department has done is move some amounts around in the various line items.
Township board member Larry Ellis questioned why the department still had $18,000 budgeted for professional services when there are no pending legal matters.
The township spent around $11,000 this year attempting to create a fire territory with Madison and Harrison townships.
McDonough said the township may need the money for services other than legal next year.
He went on to say the township’s clerk, Kelly Alcala, had turned in her resignation letter and that Oct. 31 would be her last day.
McDonough went on to note that Alcala did not give a reason.
The trustee said the township has someone who is now learning the job.
McDonough said the person wanted time to see what the job involved before committing to it full time.
The trustee said there is also a dispute now that may require the township to go to court to get resolved.
If that happens, he said the township will need to have an attorney represent it.
That argument did not change Ellis’s mind, as he continued to push to have the amount reduced.
Board member and chairman Angela Turley was not at the meeting.
Amy Russell chaired the meeting.
She made a motion to approve the budget.
The vote was 2-1 to approve the budget with Russell voting for approval and Ellis voted against.
The trustee voted to break the tie and voted to approve.
After the meeting, McDonough said Turley had sent him an email Wednesday night in which she resigned from the board effect immediately.
He said she did not give a reason.
Other business.
Lang said the department’s EMS runs are up over last year.
He said at this time, revenue was also up over last year.
Lang said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused their overtime budget to go up as they had people off due to the virus.
~ By Keith Rhoades | Reporter | Published October 23, 2020 in The Reporter Times