GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — The board of trustees finalized the township’s 2025 business during an end-of-year meeting Tuesday.

With the conclusion of 2025 Fiscal Officer Michele Barratt presented the trustees with the township’s final budget for the year. She said the township entered 2025 with a starting balance of $1,213,530.94 and brought in $2,230,795.36 in revenue outpacing its expenses of $2,085,931.62 for an increased carryover balance of $1,358,668.28. There was a $273.90 fund balance adjustment when the township needed to re-issue a check which was misplaced by an employee the year prior. Trustees voted unanimously to approve the final budget and approved a memorandum of understanding with the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office and Balestra & Company for the township’s routine audit.

Other financial matters approved included: routine resolutions authorizing Barratt to move township funds within the fund level and to request advances from the Mahoning County Auditor; and health care premium payouts for township employees opting out of health insurance.

Trustees also voted to approve a $12,000 contract for engineering services with

Thomas Fok & Associates Inc. for the upcoming Diagonal Road Paving Project. Trustee Shawn Mesler said the first advertisement for bids will be on Feb. 7, with the second to follow on Feb. 24. All bids will be due not later than 2 p.m. March 10, so trustees can open the bids later that evening when they meet for their March meeting at 6 p.m. According to Mesler the project could begin no earlier than July 21 and must be completed by Aug. 21.

Other matters approved included: renewal of the township’s fire protection contract with the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department with no changes; and the submission of an application for an equipment grant for up to $15,000 from the state fire marshal’s office on behalf of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department.

The board of trustees will meet next at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10.