Waupaca’s levy up by less than 1/10th percent

By Angie Landsverk

The city of Waupaca’s proposed 2017 budget includes a .09 percent increase in the city’s tax levy.

The proposed levy of $3.474 million is $3,041 higher than the city’s present levy of $3.471 million.

Kathryn Kasza, the city’s finance director and treasurer, presented the budget to the common council on Oct. 18.

The proposed General Fund expenditures of $7.227 million are 2.63 percent higher than this year’s General Fund expenditures of $7.04 million.

“The tax levy limit worksheet drives what we can levy for taxes for operations and debt service,” she told the council.

This year, the city had a 1.73 percent increase in net new construction, Kasza said.

That allows the city to increase its operating levy by $37,330, she said.

Kasza told the council the proposed budget includes wage adjustments for three positions – the IT/communication specialist, parks and recreation program specialist and youth services librarian – due to the change in the federal government’s overtime exemption law for salaried employees.

The budget proposal also includes the addition of a part-time clerical position in the Finance Department and adjusting the pay of the lifeguards hired for the summer to allow for better recruitment of those positions.

Kasza said the department heads adjusted their expenditures to make the 2017 budget work.

“A lot came through and kept their budgets to what they were in 2016,” she said. “We were able to come through with a good budget and minimal increase.”

Kasza told the council she was waiting for more information related to the city’s total assessed value before she would be able to determine the city’s 2017 mill rate.

The city’s current mill rate is $10.19 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

A public hearing on the proposed 2017 budget will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The council is expected to take action on the budget that evening.

Mayor Brian Smith told the council further discussion on line items could take place during the council’s Tuesday, Nov. 1 meeting, if the council wanted it.

“Or do you think you can just get it taken care of on the 15th?” he asked.

Ald. Paul Mayou replied, “Yes.”