By Jacob Carpenter
The Citizen Patriot

LEONI, Mich. — The size of Leoni Township's fire department would be cut nearly in half and residents would pay at least $500 for summoning the fire department as part of the township's proposed 2008-09 fiscal year budget.

The budget is expected to be presented and could be approved during today's township board meeting at 7 p.m. at Leoni Township Hall, 913 Fifth St.

To help make up for a $1 million budget shortfall resulting from a failed millage in May, the township's fire staff would be cut from 12 to seven firefighters as part of more than $400,000 in reductions to public safety. The township's north station, 5860 Brills Lake Road, likely would close during nonpeak times, such as between 3 a.m. and 6 p.m., resulting in one open station.

The township also would raise an estimated $157,000 by charging residents who require assistance from the fire department.

Fees would begin at around $500 for runs of one vehicle and two department members and increase if more equipment or manpower is needed. Township officials said auto and homeowner's insurance should cover many fees that would be imposed by the township for emergency responses.

Cuts to every township department with the exception of the board of review also would be made. Township employee salaries would be frozen under the proposal.

Other fee increases, including a $10 hike in building-inspection charges, would help make up for the shortfall.

In all, about $625,000 in township spending would be cut and an additional $375,000 in revenue would be raised.

Township Supervisor Kip Ballast said the budget review committee, a group of five township officials and two residents formed after the millage failure, looked at all expenses and revenues during eight meetings in the past month.

"We've cut everything in the township that we can cut and still provide the services that we need to provide," Ballast said.

Township firefighter Chris Huttenlocker, the fire union president, said the budget considerations have not negatively affected contract negotiations that are ongoing between the union and township.

"It's going to affect the citizens more than it will affect the fire department," Huttenlocker said of the cutbacks.

While department budgets have been established under the proposal, a line-by-line budget detailing exact costs has yet to be presented.

Township Clerk Michele Manke said a line-by-line budget is being fine-tuned and should be available by Thursday.

Trustee Shirley Johnson said she would be hesitant to vote on the committee's budget without a detailed list of expenses.

"I think what they've done is great and I'm sure if I could see the fine lines of (the budget) then I would agree with them, but I do have a hard time voting on what we've received now," Johnson said.

Johnson also expressed concern about the decline in fire staff.

"I'm wondering if we're cutting it too close," she said. "I don't want anybody's life or the residents to be in danger at all, and I'm not sure if there are any other places that we haven't talked about that we could cut from."

Leoni Township resident Mike LaRocque, a township firefighter for 36 years, said he disagrees with the fire-run fees.

"If you live in the townships, you're already paying taxes once," LaRocque said.

Ballast said a new fire millage could be on the ballot by November but likely wouldn't be proposed if the fire-run fee system works well.

State law requires a balanced budget to be passed before July 1.

Copyright 2008, The Citizen Patriot