Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LEESBURG - The Plain Township trustee and advisory board proposed the 1999 budget Tuesday, which will total $608,823.
According to Plain Township trustee Donald Boggs, the township's fire and emergency medical service funds, totaling $470,000, make up the bulk of the annual budget. The proposed cumulative fire fund is $205,000; the proposed emergency medical service fund is $180,000; and the township firefighting fund is $85,000.
The other proposed fund totals for 1999 are:
Debt service fund - $72,423
Township fund - $50,000
Poor relief fund - $15,000
Recreation fund - $1,400
"I use the property tax to pay for fire protections, because the fire department protects property," Boggs said. "I use the County Option Income Tax for emergency medical service, because the option tax is on people."
The maximum estimated tax levy for the township is $230,115 and is based on a total assessed property valuation of $75,983,589. That translates into the following tax rates for each fund, calculated on each $1,000 of assessed valuation:
EMS fund .0222
Debt service fund .0912
Township fund .049
Fire fighting fund .0665
Cumulative fire fund .941
Recreation fund .0222
Poor relief fund .006
"Our tax rate is the lowest in the county, and will be again, even with taking in the new township administrative, fire and EMS building," Boggs said. "Our tax levy has increased only slightly over the last four years because we manage to keep high cash balances in our operating funds."
According to Boggs, the maximum levy raised in 1996 was $140,451. That amount will rise to $230,115 in 1999 if approved by the state tax board this fall.
In other business, the board awarded the cleaning contract for the new township administrative office building to Scott Kammerer for $176 per month. The only other bid received, from Joanne's Cleaning Service, was for $390 per month.
The board will vote on the proposed budget in its meeting Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in the new Plain Township administration building.
