Collier Township faces deficit in 2021 spending plan

Collier commissioners need to find a way to fill a $300,000 hole in the township’s spending plan for 2021.

The township projects $8.9 million in revenue for next year, which reflects a 2% decrease from 2020.

The township’s expenses for 2021 so far add up to $9.2 million, but that number could grow, said Dawn Williams-Zabicki, president of the board of commissioners.

“We have a stormwater management issue that has come up that we anticipate will cost us (as much as) $400,000 for 2021,” she said.

Jeff Hinds, the township’s finance director, said the covid-19 pandemic has caused a decrease in revenue from taxes including the earned income tax, mercantile and business privilege taxes and the local services tax.

He said the township did a good job in reducing spending this year, but it might have to do so again depending on the pandemic situation.

Possible “belt-tightening” for 2021 was not reflected in the spending plan presented Oct. 12, Hinds said.

Kyle Thauvette, township manager, said Collier reduced its spending in 2020 by laying off about 10 part-time employees at the community center. He said those employees have since been reinstated.

Other ways the township reduced spending included postponing Collier’s road repair and renovation project until next year and freezing ancillary spending such as purchases of tools and office supplies.

The board will discuss next year’s budget again at its Oct. 26 voting meeting. It plans to finalize a draft budget by Nov. 9, when board commissioners likely will vote on buying a legal notice to advertise the budget in a newspaper.

Thauvette said the public will be able to comment on the spending plan during the township’s Nov. 23 meeting, and, if all goes according to plan, the budget will be adopted Dec. 14.