The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Finance workshop held for residents
Township hopes to edcuate residents about audits
By Dave Wak, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: February 14, 2008
Augusta Township Clerk Kathy Giszczak last week held a public workshop on understanding township financial statements.
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Giszczak described the 55 minute event as a "show and tell" on how the average citizen can look at township finance statements and interpret the data.
For example, she told the audience that audits can be looked at as report cards on how the township is doing financially.
She also joked that going through these records can be boring to the average person.
"If you need sleep, read the audit," Giszczak said.
Specifically, Giszczak said the workshop helped citizens track audits, look up township expenditures, funds in the township's coffers, and developer accounts.
Township resident Judy Thorton attended the meeting to get some basic answers about township finances.
"How can we tell if money is being properly spent?" Thorton asked.
Trustee Bill Tobler was on hand to answer some questions and highlight financial challenges facing the township.
Tobler said one of the main challenges is collecting money owed by developers. Some developers had been using township professionals, such as engineers, to do work on their projects, but were not paying back the township for these services.
Tobler said ultimately the township and taxpayers end up footing the bill.
To address this issue, the board recently approved stop orders on some developer's projects until they pay at least a portion of the money they owe.
Another issue that was discussed are utility department expenses. This issue has been the subject of heated debate on the board. Both Giszczak and Tobler say the township doesn't have an accurate tracking system for utility expenses and is losing money as a result.
Giszczak said the Board of Trustees was waiting for a report on these expenses in March. The report will review both water and sewer rates and whether the township will have to raise them.
A third issue they covered was how to reduce general township expenditures. Giszczak said the township borrowed money from its police and fire funds to pay for expenses on its general fund.
Giszczak added that since she took over the books last year she has saved the township $40,000.
Dave Wak is an Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. He can be reached at dwak4@hotmail.com.
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