Salary increases totaling just over $2,000 were approved Saturday at the annual meeting in Cleveland Township.
Twenty-two persons attended the meeting and unanimously endorsed the 2025-26 budget which went into effect Tuesday.
On the revenue side of the equation, the $798,856 budget is based on an operating millage levy of .5402 mills; 2.5 mills for fire/rescue; a half-mill for roads and a 1% tax administration fee.
The greatest source of revenue, $410,000, will be generated from the 2.5 mills for fire/rescue. An additional $157,000 is expected from the township operations levy. State shared revenue is proposed at $121,000 and income for road projects, $82,000.
The greatest expenses for the township are fire/rescue services and roads which account for about 80%of the adopted $1,013,508 budget. The township road project for Scenic Mountain View Estates and Fairway Drive has a projected cost of $430,000. Expenses for fire and rescue services through Cedar Area Fire & Rescue (CAFR) are eye-balled at $346,042.
Raises included in salary resolutions passed in February were also backed at the annual meeting.
The township used a report from the Michigan Townships Association to calculate the raises. As approved, the township supervisor’s compensation is set at $16,500, up $915 from last budget year. A $700 raise was approved for the township clerk, bringing her annual pay to $22,350. Another $610 was added to the treasurer’s salary, bringing it to $19,875.
Township trustees will be paid a $180 per diem.
In other business during the two-hour meeting, the board and audience heard annual reports from CAFR Chief Andy Doornbos and Brendan Mullane manager of the Leelanau County Road Commission.
The board also: • Reviewed the township Short-Term Rental (STR) ordinance. Since effective Jan. 1, 2025, 30 of the 36 permits have been issued. Violation notices will be going on this month.
• Discussed the status and progress concerning the moratorium on further development in the B1 and B2 district. The moratorium was put in place after plans were announced for a Dollar Store on Maple City Road, north of the unincorporated village of Maple City.
