The budget represents a 3.7 percent decrease from spending in 2004-05.

The township’s fiscal year runs April 1-March 31.

The new budget includes a 2.75 percent wage increase for the township supervisor, clerk, treasurer and two trustees. With the increase, the salary for supervisor, clerk and treasurer will be $42,745, and the trustees will receive $5,138.

The board froze its pay for 2004-05 at the level approved for 2003-04.

In 2005-06, township officials expect 41 percent of total revenue ($439,945) to come from state shared revenue.

The next two highest amounts of revenue to the township in the coming fiscal year will come from taxes ($395,274) and permits ($77,000).

Highlights of the new budget include $13,500 allocated to finance half the cost to update the township Master Plan (Another $13,500 will be allocated by the board in the 2006-07 budget to finish the project), a provision to pay Zoning Board of Appeals members $50 per meeting, additional money for the township to conduct school elections on behalf of local districts, and additional funds to pay for an anticipated 10 percent increase in health care expenses for township employees.

“I think it’s a very conservative budget,” Bruce Township Treasurer Deborah Obrecht said.

Among other action at its March 16 meeting, the board:

l Approved the 2005-06 fiscal year budgets for the Romeo-Washington-Bruce Parks and Recreation Department and Romeo-Washington-Bruce STAR (senior transportation). Both budgets are up 3 percent over budgets approved for the two organizations in 2004-05. Taxes paid by Bruce Township residents and businesses will support $328,198 of the Parks and Recreation total budget of $1,775,099.

Three percent raises for department employees are included in the Parks and Recreation budget.

l Approved a revised, 5-year, Master Plan created for the Romeo-Washington-Bruce Parks and Recreation Department.

l Heard a report that the township received a letter from the Road Commission of Macomb County stating the Commission has denied a request by the township to install stop signs at the north and south approaches to a curve on Brown Road.

l Approved holding a public hearing on April 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the township hall, to consider comments from residents concerning how the township board should allocate $39,314 in Community Development Block Grant money the township will receive in 2005.

l Approved $21,000 to pay the accounting firm Plante and Moran to conduct the annual audit.

l Approved spending $2,560 to equip the Chase Farms Lift Station so station operations can be monitored by radio communication as opposed to telephone communication equipment currently in operation. The system conversion will allow for a more reliable monitoring system and result in budget savings, according to Washington Township Sewer and Water Department officials. The Department monitors and maintains the Chase Farms Lift Station.

l Set a special meeting of the board for March 31, at 8:30 a.m., to review the township personnel policy.

l Heard a report that the owner of the Mellen House recently allowed the township fire department to inspect the building to determine if someone is living in the commercially zoned structure - a violation of the township zoning ordinance. The Mellen House, a historic home located at 124 W. Gates Street, was converted into an office building in the 1990s.

Bruce-Romeo Fire Chief Floyd Shotwell told the board no one is living in the building, and some minor violations were noted. He said the building would be re-inspected within a month.