New developments in Green Oak Township could make finalizing next fiscal year’s budget a bit more challenging than usual.

The Board of Trustees reviewed the draft budget for fiscal year 2018-19 in preparation of working it out through January. Supervisor Mark St. Charles said that while the budget doesn’t drastically change from year to year, unknowns in the building department are going to be a big topic moving forward. St. Charles said infrastructure on several developments is beginning to be put in, but they don’t know whether they will end up with 75, 100, or 150 new homes. Once these infrastructures are in, the supervisor said that will make 2019 and 2020’s budgets more predictable.

St. Charles one area they can make next year’s budget easier is by paying the $1.5 million down payment on the police station this year. The Board will look to pass an amendment at their next meeting to do so. St. Charles said that it looks like they’re going to need that money sooner than they expected, and that it was going to have to come out of a budget sometime, anyway. The Board of Trustees also scheduled two budget workshops to take place next month. The first will be at 4:30pm on Monday, January 8th, and the second at 4:30pm on Tuesday, January 16th. Both will be held at the township hall. Green Oak Township’s new fiscal year begins on April 1st. (MK)