Editor's Note: This opinion piece was written by Mayor Jeff Scrima.

Today, the 2012 executive budget for the City of Waukesha is being released. Special thanks to our Executive Leadership Team – which consists of Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell, our Finance Department and all of our Department Directors – for their collaboration and hard work in putting together a proposed budget which produces a zero percent tax levy increase for our citizens.

We understand the struggles our citizens and city employees face. Putting together this proposal was time consuming, complex and required flexibility. Under this proposal the average homeowner will see the same, and in some cases better, level of city services and not see an increase in the city portion of their tax bill.

From here this proposed budget will go before the Finance Committee and the Common Council for review during a series of meetings this next month, as noted on the city website. Citizens are encouraged to attend or watch these meetings on TV 25 and contact their Council Member or the Mayor’s Office at (262) 524-3700 for commentary or questions.

Together, as the Executive Leadership Team, we are proud of this work to date and trust that that our Common Council will concur with this proposal which produces, for the second year in a row, a zero percent increase in the city tax levy.