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November 14, 2006 MINUTES OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
MINUTES OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING November 14, 2006 Chair Pelletier opened the Public Budget Hearing at 7 PM. The Public Budget Hearing was held in the Community Center after due notice had been posted. Chair Pelletier stated there would be three pieces of business for this meeting: a public hearing regarding the budget where the citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the budget; a special town meeting of the electors where you will vote on the 2007 highway expenditures and adopt the 2006 town tax levy. Chair Pelletier said he would address the budget first. In the handouts provided for tonight’s meeting he has a summarized the proposed budget. Pelletier said he would like to give the highlights, including the significant increase ($325,759) for the budget. Pelletier the listed the major reasons for the increase. The contractual union increases, which make up 50% of the entire town’s budget. The proposal to add a Town Administrator for a budgeted amount of $ 116,500 is one of the increases in the budget. The Town hasn’t had an administrator for four years; the item is being recommended by the board as a direct result of a request from citizens at a plan commission meeting. Pelletier said there is a definite need for a full-time administrator to assist in managing the town. $ 75,000 is being put aside for an Incorporation effort. The major reason for this would be because of development. The Incorporation could freeze our borders, stop annexations to the cities. Through incorporation the town would be in a better position to negotiate with developers. Zoning would be done in the Town, not Walworth County. An updated to the Master Plan including legal fees is budgeted at $ 32,000. This would aid the board and the Town on planning for the future of the Town. Many things have changed in SE Wisconsin in the last twelve years, since the Master Plan was last updated. The citizens could have input into what you see as far as future development in the Town. One or more people have expressed their desire the preserve agricultural land; but there are restrictions on what the Town of Delavan can do. If the Town incorporated we could tell the developers no; right now if we do they can go to the county and the county could approve without our OK. The Village of Walworth did just that; they did say no. Pelletier remarked adding up these entire increases amount to approximately 89% of the total budget increase. Where will it come from? Pelletier outlined the budgeted revenues and fees that increased $ 148,000. The Park Fees will bring in an estimated $ 33,000 increase due to the increase in launch fees. The Rescue Service is now charging for rescue calls; most will be paid by the individual insurance carried. If a citizen doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay the town won’t put them in debtor’s jail; the town will forgive the charge. The review fees are estimated to go up $ 57,000; a charge we always had; with the increase in building in the town. These are dollars we collect from developers, but in most cases turn around and hire consultants to help the town. The monies come in and right back out. Westshire Farms will have an $ 18,000 increase in municipal fees next year; part of it being the inflation factor that is part of their contract with the town and the other part of the increase is due to 100% sales of the units. Interest rates are projected to be higher next year for a $ 25,000 increase in interest income. An additional $ 54,400 from surplus will be used to balance the budget. The total amount to be used from surplus will be $ 106,000. Various departments reduced their budgets by $ 30,000 which gives an additional contribution to the budget. All of this adds up to only increasing the total levy by $ 57,100 for a total levy of $ 2,312,100. Chair Pelletier reported this means the 2007 proposed mill rate is $ 2.69, $ .02 more than last year; an increase of less than one percent. Pelletier said he is not saying that your total tax bill will only go up that much; just the town’s portion. Pelletier pointed out what the residents will get for that 1%. Chair Pelletier stated that significant changes to the budget can always come along during the year; we don’t always know our costs of items. An example is the salt storage shed; the current one can’t be used; the cost is undetermined at this time. This would be an item that would be financed over a long term; like ten years. The Delavan water quality improvements project for Mound Rd., Brown’s Channel and the Delavan Inlet will exceed the dollars set aside for the project. The bid for Mound Rd. and Brown’s Channel are $ 930,000 and there is only $ 800,000 left over from the monies set aside for all three projects. The board has already approved the Mound Rd. and Brown’s Channel project, the contracts are signed and we will start to see mobilization on the Mound Rd. project next week and the Brown’s Channel project right after Thanksgiving. Brown’s Channel is estimated to be completed by mid to late January. Mound Rd. might need to stop because of weather and restart in the spring. The additions to the budget are part of the cost of running government. The town is under pressure due to growth and development to hire an administrator; incorporation is necessary to maintain the borders of the town; the update to the mast plan is a prudent move to make. All of these items will help the town continue to be what the people want it to be. Don Deischsel – 4012 Cardinal Lane– Mr. Deischsel asked about the 12 Million dollars the assessed valuation went up from last year; is this based on actual or proposed. Chair Pelletier responded actual. Fran Flucke – 820 Inlet Shore Drive – Ms. Flucke asked if there has been any discussion on how the monies put aside for the inlet project would be replaced. Chair Pelletier responded no discussion thus far; he knows the board was directed to spend the allocated funds on three projects. The way the monies were borrowed, the funds don’t have to be spent for any particular project. He doesn’t want to leave the impression that this won’t be addressed. The Lake Committee along with the board will need to decide what they are going to do. Chair Pelletier said he was the one in 2004 that made the motion to allocate these funds, but the inlet can’t be done until Mound Rd. is completed. The project is budgeting out for twice the cost. He will be looking to the lake committee to help figure this out. Pelletier reported he is going before the common council in the City of Delavan next week to ask for money for preservation of the lake. Pelletier stated the TIF that developed for Lake Lawn will not pay for itself if the lake goes bad; he hopes the City agrees. Chair Pelletier stated this portion of the meeting is over. Supervisor Polzin made a motion to adjourn the Public Hearing with a second from Supervisor Malsch and the motion carried. Chair Pelletier closed the public hearing at 7:32 PM ATTEST: APPROVED: ______________________________ ______________________________ Colleen Endisch, Town Clerk John Pelletier, Town Chair