Trustee's Responsibilities

Each single township has four trustees elected at large. They, with the supervisor, comprise the town (ship) board of trustees. Each board member, including the supervisor, has one vote.

Generally speaking, the town board is the legislative branch of township government, which establishes policy for the township to follow. Policies established by the town board are generally carried out by the supervisor and clerk in their capacities as administrators. The town board may not establish policies for either the township assessor or the highway commissioner.

The township trustees are responsible for certifying tax levies for the township and road district. In the case of the road district, the amount of the levy is to be determined by highway commissioner. The town board of trustees is also responsible for adopting the annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the town, general assistance, and road and bridge funds. The trustees are also responsible for approving all town expense and auditing bills submitted for payment by the highway commissioner.

The trustees have an obligation to approve all legally incurred bills to the extent that there is an appropriation for the expenditure. Conversely, the trustees have an obligation to reject for payment, all bills, including those for the road district that are not legally incurred debts.