Wayne Township Advisory Board is working to slash its levy by 30 percent next year.

The reduction comes amid a growing $1.2 million reserve fund that has built up in recent years and has become fodder in the township campaign.

The advisory board on Thursday held a public hearing on its 2019 budget and could finalize the plan later this month to use more cash reserves in order to drive down  the levy for three of four funds – township assistance, the general operating fund and cemetery fund.

The township’s finances are so good, according to Advisory Board President Robert Bishop, they can endure the 30 percent reductions and still provide ongoing services.

The move comes after Shari Benyousky’s campaign for Wayne Township trustee put a spotlight on the township’s growing fund balance and asked if taxpayers were being overcharged or underserved.

Benyousky is running as a Democrat  and faces Republican Jeanie Stackhouse. Trustee Sheila Burner did not seek re-election.

They were among nearly 20 people who attended Thursday’s meeting, the most by far to show up at an advisory board meeting in years.

Wayne Township includes the city of Warsaw and town of Winona Lake.

Bishop said they’ve reduced the levy by 20 percent in the past six or seven years and were aware of the large reserves as it began the budget process this year.

He said the board turned to the state’s Department of Local Government Finance, which recommended they reduce the levy.

“I’m not sure a lot of people thought it was possible,” Bishop said.

The circumstances represent a rare situation in which taxing units are flush with cash, but Bishop said other townships are facing the same dilemna.

Several issues have fueled the growing reserves. One is the result of renegotiated contracts for ambulance services with Lutheran EMS that has saved the township about $195,000 in the past two years, he said.

The township is also seeing less demand for assistance to low-income families. From 2011 to 2017, the number of requests for assistance fell from 291 to 157.

“We have all this money because the economy is awesome. Our primary responsibility is township assistance and we simply don’t have the requests right now,” Bishop said.

However, Benyousky and others contend there is more that could be done to serve low-income families. Some urged the board to hold off on the reductions.

Don Zolman called the notion of cutting the levy 30 percent “absurd” without first looking at the needs of the township. He suggested the township could assist with school security.

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Bishop said they have not heard such requests and that they don’t normally make proposals for service.

He also cautioned that the township is limited in the ways it can help.

Bruce Woodward, a Republican candidate for advisory board who endorsed Benyousky several days ago, said he believes the township can do more to help, and mentioned educational programs and transportation assistance.

He said the advisory board should be more proactive and creative in serving the township.

Benyousky pointed to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s suggestion that townships get involved in the opioid battle. She said she’s talked to several officials who are open to the idea of township involvement.

Laura Deal-Decker, a Democrat candidate for the advisory board who works as a social worker, believes there are “gaps in service.”

“I am of the mindset of giving people the benefit of the doubt and trying to help them,” Deal-Decker said. “I do think we have some gaps in services including transportation, housing and child care.”

Bishop welcomed the input, and said he wished they had become more involved earlier in the budget process.

He also acknowledged that significant changes in township leadership will be ushered in January as a result of the November election.

Neither Bishop or Erin Rowland are seeking re-election.

“There is no reason next year’s board can’t spend more money. We’re not anywhere close to the tax levy (maximum). If next year’s board were to say we’re going to do this and put more money into the account, that’s more than doable,” Bishop said.

Also during the meeting, Benyousky submitted a public document request for paperwork involving finances. She said she was not doing it to “pester” the office, but rather to further understand township operations.

Stackhouse did not speak during the meeting, but said afterward that she’s looking at a few ideas, if elected, including one to assist students.