New London considers 2023 budget
By Robert Cloud
City of New London property owners will see their property tax rates for 2022, payable in 2023, increase by just over 5 cents in Waupaca County, while those in Outagamie County will see their rates decease by nearly 8 cents.
For Waupaca County, the 2021 mill rate was $9.85 per $1,000 of assessed value, while the 2022 mill rate is projected to be $9.90, according to figures from City Administrator Chad Hoerth.
On a $100,000 home, the city tax bill will rise from $985.56 to $990.91 in Waupaca County.
For Outagamie County, this year’s mill rate decreased from just under $9.95 to nearly $9.87.
On a $100,000 home, the city tax bill will drop from $994.58 to $986.85 in Outagamie County.
The city’s total tax levy will rise by $26,112 to $3,92 million in the 2023 budget.
“So the city is increasing the amount of tax dollars to New London property owners by 0.67%,” Hoerth said.
The 2021 equalized value was $416.7 million. The value in 2022 increased to $450 million.
2023 budget
Total General Fund operational expenses for the year 2023 are budgeted to increase by 4.70% or $379,289 out of a total budget of $8.44 million.
“Most of this increase is attributable to supply and energy increases due to rising inflation as well as an effort to increase wages for retention and recruitment efforts,” Hoerth said in his 2023 budget message.
Total operating revenue is up by $99,150 to $4.98 million.
The city has budgeted for increased state highway aids, library aids, license and permit fees.
In 2023, state shared revenue will decrease by $943 to $2.17 million. Highway aids will increase by $21,939 to $647,832.
Finance Committee resolution
At its Nov. 2 meeting, the Finance and Personnel Committee voted to recommend a resolution urging the state legislature and governor to “fix broken system of funding critical local services.”
The resolution notes that while state sales and income tax revenues “have tripled in the last 30 years … the share of those taxes going to support police, fire, EMS, and other local services has gone down.”
According to the resolution, municipalities are being forced to rely more heavily on property taxes to fund local services.
New London is among many communities across the state, in collaboration with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Counties Association and Wisconsin Towns Association, urging the state to develop revenue options other than property taxes to continue delivering police, fire, EMS and other critical services.