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<strong>April</strong> 19, <strong>2020</strong> -SOUTHWEST MESSENGER - PAGE 11<br />
Government Focus<br />
Township officials discuss concerns for financial future<br />
By Dedra Cordle<br />
Staff Writer<br />
While the current financial situation in<br />
Jackson Township shows stability, officials<br />
believe there could be trouble in the future.<br />
At the <strong>April</strong> 14 board of trustees meeting,<br />
which was held virtually via Facebook<br />
Live, Fiscal Officer Ron Grossman said<br />
there has been an increase in expenditures,<br />
fluctuation in revenue sources and<br />
an overall positive cash balance.<br />
According to his report, the township<br />
has collected more than $8.3 million in revenue,<br />
which is slightly down in comparison<br />
to its collection at this point last year.<br />
He said real estate taxes have increased<br />
by $272,000 and they have collected more<br />
than $41,000 through the city of Grove<br />
City’s Tax Increment Financing Fund.<br />
He also noted that they have not collected<br />
$540,000 in Homestead and Rollback<br />
taxes from the state, which he believes<br />
could be coming in later this month.<br />
Where the uncertainty related to the<br />
health of the revenue comes in, he said, is<br />
with the number of business closures and<br />
rent collection delays that took place to<br />
slow the spread of a novel coronavirus. He<br />
said typically at this time, the township<br />
would be collecting hundreds of thousands<br />
of dollars but added that collection will<br />
likely be delayed by several months.<br />
“I have a feeling that commercial and<br />
industrial properties will really hammer us<br />
on delinquencies,” he said. “Hopefully they<br />
will be able to make it up next year.”<br />
Grossman reported that there has been<br />
a rise in expenditures compared to this<br />
time last year.<br />
“Our expenditures are up by almost<br />
$700,000 over last year,” he said.<br />
He said that payroll has increased but<br />
noted that it should stabilize as the fire<br />
department has temporarily limited training<br />
and restricted earned time off for its<br />
employees.<br />
The cash balance remains positive with<br />
$9.6 million on hand.<br />
“We are in a pretty good financial situation<br />
cash wise,” Grossman said.<br />
He also added that the United States<br />
Department of Health and Human<br />
Services deposited $36,000 into the township<br />
EMS account as part of the<br />
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic<br />
Security Act.<br />
“That was a nice piece of information to<br />
help our revenue,” he said.<br />
Upon listening to the report, trustee<br />
Dave Burris said the township would have<br />
to “watch its Ps and Qs” as it pertains to<br />
spending.<br />
“There is a whole lot of uncertainty,<br />
which is scary,” he said.<br />
Fire Chief Randy Little also presented<br />
his department report at the meeting. He<br />
said based upon the recommendation of its<br />
medical director, the department will be<br />
limiting its COVID-19 transports to Mount<br />
Carmel Grove City, Doctors West or<br />
Nationwide Children’s Hospital. All other<br />
transports will be taken to the closest facility.<br />
The transport restriction, he said, was<br />
implemented to give its personnel time to<br />
decontaminate themselves and the vehicles<br />
after making emergency runs.<br />
Little also reported that none of the<br />
department’s employees have tested positive<br />
for COVID-19. He credited that with<br />
their efforts to socially distance and their<br />
adherence to following township policies<br />
and federal guidelines.<br />
He also told the board that the department’s<br />
supply of personal protective equipment<br />
is in good shape but noted they have<br />
recently had to purchase some supplies via<br />
Amazon and EBay because their usual<br />
supplier has experienced shortages.<br />
He also thanked the community for<br />
their support and praised the men and<br />
women of the fire department for their skill<br />
and professionalism during this uncertain<br />
time.<br />
The next board of trustees meeting will<br />
take place via Facebook Live on <strong>April</strong> 28 at<br />
1:30 p.m. To access the broadcast, search<br />
Facebook for Jackson Township in<br />
Franklin County, Ohio or click the<br />
Facebook button at the top banner of their<br />
official webpage at www.jacksontwp.org.<br />
Residents can submit comments during the<br />
broadcast.<br />
around the southwest<br />
Writer’s Group to raise<br />
funds for 2021 writing contest<br />
The Grove City Writer’s Group has<br />
announced that the Summer Scribbles<br />
Contest held annually for South-Western<br />
City School students is cancelled for <strong>2020</strong>.<br />
The group will raise funds in the coming<br />
months to support the contest in 2021. A<br />
major overhaul of the writing contest is<br />
expected. For more information or to<br />
donate, contact Janet Shailer at<br />
JanetShailer@hotmail.com or Barbara<br />
Whittington at barbwhitti@aol.com.<br />
What is Hope? - Quotes from Readers in the Community<br />
“Hope is a future belief.” - Evan, age 10 “Hope is kindness.” - Moriah, age 7<br />
“Hope is not a word I use that much, because my Faith in God is much bigger. I can honestly say I don‛t use the word<br />
Hope that much when I really think about it. I always say I Pray rather than Hope. Prayer changes all Hopes.<br />
<strong>April</strong> J., age 60<br />
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