Politics & Government

Residents Face a Possible 2.32% City Tax Increase

Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima calls on Finance Committee "to do a better job of providing tax relief for our families and for our future" over the next six weeks.

City taxes could increase by 2.32 percent if the Waukesha Common Council approves the proposed 2013 budget as presented.

Total city spending is increasing by 2.02 percent under the proposed budget, despite about $1.5 million in cuts already made – including a deputy fire chief and a firefighter.

“As a new city administrator whose first day on the job for the City of Waukesha was Sept. 10, 2012, it was impossible to have the kind of fiscal impact on the budget that more time would have allowed,” wrote City Administrator Ed Henschel in his letter of transmittal to the Common Council. “In spite of that, you will find on the one hand some fairly bold recommended changes and on the other hand a status quo in some operations and service levels.”

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Total taxes in the tentative budget are increasing from $51.5 million in 2012 to  $52.6 million in 2013. For a home worth $200,000, the increase would result in a $52.60 tax increase if assessed property values remain the same.

 

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


2013

2012

% Change

Difference

Taxes

$52,661,309

$51,466,874

2.32%

$1,194,435

Tax Rate

$9.813

$9.55

2.76%

$0.26

Impact on $200K Home

$1,962.60

$1,910.00


$52.60

However, Henschel told the Finance Committee he is “confident that number will come down significantly” as the group of aldermen review the budget in the next two months. Henschel expects the taxes to decrease when the budget is adopted Nov. 20.

Mayor Jeff Scrima said in prepared statement that he wants to see the Common Council decrease spending from the proposed budget.

“Waukesha families are experiencing an uncertain economy and the burden of heavier water bills,” Scrima said. “The school district reduced their tax levy by 1.07 percent and the county tax levy increased by 0.79 percent. Compare that to the city's proposal of a 2.32 percent tax levy increase.

“Thankfully the finance committee has six weeks to do a better job of providing tax relief for our families and for our future."

The following major cuts are in the proposed budget:

City Expenses Reduced From Budget


1 percent wage increase vs. 1.5 percent in 2012

$172,000

Unfunding Engineering Dept. position/delay filling Planning Department position

$120,000

Health insurance fund balance/modified health benefits

$300,000

Restructure city's print shop operations

$50,000

Eliminate general fund contribution to BID but provide in-kind support

$22,000

Elections budget reduction (off-year and no planned recall elections)

$17,000

Energy savings from installation of street lights

$48,000

Eliminate deputy fire chief, firefighter and cut significant amount of overtime

$423,600

Federal forfeiture funds for police capital purchases

$65,000

Reduce Prairie Home Cemetery subsidy

$16,000

Reduce parking utility subsidy

$42,900

Delay purchase of hot box and asphalt grinder

$173,500

Reduce IT infrastructure and TV 25

$95,000



Increased Revenues in 2012 Budget


Increased fines and forfeitures

$316,000



Total:

$1,861,000

The following is the budget schedule through the budget’s adoption on Nov. 20:

  • 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24; Finance Committee Budget Review
  • 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25; Finance Committee Budget Review
  • 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31; Finance Committee Budget Review
  • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1; Finance Committee Budget Review
  • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7; Final Finance Committee budget review/recommendations
  • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15; Common Council budget review
  • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20; Public hearing on budget and final adoption


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