Politics & Government

City Taxes Will Be Lower Than Expected

While city taxpayers originally were facing a possible 2.32 percent tax increase, they could face a slightly smaller increase in 2013.

As Waukesha aldermen continue their review of the 2013 budget, City Administrator Ed Henschel is bringing forward a few budget changes that should be welcome news to the taxpayers.

While the budget was proposed in October with a 2.32 percent increase in the propoerty tax levy, that increase is now being proposed at 0.59 percent. The Finance Committee is holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday to finalize its budget recommendations.

A big expenditure is proposed in the budget’s capital improvement plan that will be funded through sewer use charges. The first phase of a massive sewer upgrade project is planned to begin in 2013 with the city borrowing $20.7 million to find the needed repairs, according to city staff. The sewer utility does have surplus funds to help fund the project, but an unknown sewer rate increase is like to come forward in 2013.

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Other capital improvement projects – including city roadwork – could reach $7.98 million with the payments for borrowing coming from the city’s property tax revenues.

The Finance Committee went through the capital improvement plan line by line for hours Wednesday night, prompting the need for another meeting to address the operating budget. Common Council President Joe Pieper thanked the city staff members who will attend yet another budget workshop in advance.

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“It is probably the most important thing we do all year,” Pieper said.

In addition to Monday’s meeting, the final budget meetings are planned in order to have the budget wrapped up before Thanksgiving:

  • 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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