sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA TOWNSHIP — Last year, the Alpena Township Board of Trustees began its fiscal year with a balanced budget, and it hopes to repeat that accomplishment this budget cycle.
Matching revenues to expenses may prove more difficult this year, however, as uncertainty on state revenue sharing could impact the township’s general fund.
Another financial hurdle may be the unknown cost of rebuilding the township’s fire department, which makes the public safety fund budget murky now. The department is woefully understaffed and the township has contracted the Alpena Fire Department to help fill in the gaps.
The township began this fiscal year with estimated general fund revenue of $1.7 million and expenses of $1.7 million. It started the fiscal year with $913,638 in its general fund savings account.