But Belleville’s township is a rare case of redundancy in that the area it serves is the same area that the city of Belleville already covers, said Cook, who spearheaded an effort to dissolve the township.

The township’s main job is to dole out financial aid — up to $245 a month — mostly in the form of gift cards to residents who are not seniors or children, who have no income and receive no federal or state aid.

But that category of people is so small, the township only ends up giving financial aid to 40 people who qualify for it, in what is called the general assistance program, Cook said.

Other than that, the township gives aid to some community programs like senior services, food banks and summer camps.

The budget for the 2015 fiscal year showed revenue of $548,607 for the township, of which about half went to salaries ($221,358) and expenses ($54,747). The budget showed $83,798 going to general assistance and $89,644 to community projects.