A Responsible 2027 Budget for Russell Township

I am proud of the 2027 Russell Township budget because I believe it does what a township budget should do. It funds our essential services, protects public safety, addresses the real inflationary pressures our departments face, and still provides some tax relief to residents.

That is not an easy balance.

Every department is dealing with increased costs. Vehicles cost more. Equipment costs more. Materials cost more. Wages and staffing costs continue to rise. The cost of doing the same work we have always done is simply higher than it used to be. Ignoring that reality would not be responsible budgeting. At the same time, asking residents for more money every year is not something I take lightly.

That is why I am proud that this budget finds a way to reduce outside millage while still funding the township’s core responsibilities.

In plain terms, outside millage is voter-approved property tax money that supports specific township services. When residents approve a levy, they agree to pay a specific amount for a specific purpose, such as Police, Fire/EMS, or Roads. Reducing outside millage means the township is choosing to collect less of that voter-approved amount, which we can do responsibly. It is not a gimmick, and it is not a one-year trick. In my view, it only works if we can reduce the tax burden without weakening the services residents depend on.

This budget accomplishes that.

It funds the police. It protects Fire and EMS staffing. It supports our Road Department. It also helps us delay future levy requests, which is important. Based on the 2025 meeting minutes, 2025 was identified as the year of the Police levy; 2026 was supposed to be a Fire levy, and 2027 was expected to be a Road levy. That would have put residents in a position of facing levy requests year after year.

Instead, we worked together as a team to find solutions.

That matters to me. Local government works best when we are willing to sit down, look at the numbers, listen to our department heads, and be honest about what we can and cannot do. This budget does not solve every problem, but it does accomplish a lot. It protects essential services, preserves the five-year growth plan for Fire/EMS, and does not reverse the increased staffing promise made in March. I have said before that I will not support a budget that does not protect Fire/EMS staffing, as I see it as a critical safety issue for our residents and the other communities we serve through mutual aid agreements.

When someone calls 911, they are not thinking about millage rates, fund balances, or budget spreadsheets. They are thinking about whether help will arrive. Our budget has to reflect that responsibility.

There are still capital needs that must be addressed. One of the biggest, in my view, is the Road Department building. That building is past its useful age and needs to be replaced. Our Road Department does important work for this community, and we need to make sure they have a facility that supports the work we ask them to do.

Road Superintendent Giovanni Maltese and I recently met with River Kale from Congressman Dave Joyce’s office to discuss grant and loan opportunities at all levels of government. Our goal is to find the most cost-effective way to replace the Road Department building for Russell Township residents. If there are state, federal, or other funding opportunities available, we should be pursuing them before placing the full burden on local taxpayers.

That is how I view this budget as a whole. It is not about doing the easiest thing. It is about doing the responsible thing.

The 2027 budget funds the services residents expect, accounts for rising costs, reduces outside millage where possible, and gives us more time before going back to voters for additional levy requests. It also keeps us focused on the longer-term capital needs that cannot be ignored.

I am proud of the work that went into this budget because it shows what can happen when we work together, ask hard questions, and stay focused on the residents we serve. This budget is not perfect, and no budget ever is. But I believe it is responsible, explainable, and honest about where Russell Township is today and where we need to go next.

The views expressed here are mine only and are intended to keep residents informed about township issues. Decisions of the Russell Township Board of Trustees are made only during public meetings.