By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
As has been the norm lately for the Town of Burlington, there will be no tax levy increases for the 2012 budget.
But how the town got there – and the cuts it had to make this year – is the real story.
After a huge battle this spring and summer, the Town of Burlington contracted out its police services with the Racine County Sheriff’s department to save money.
According to Town Administrator Diane Baumeister, the town saved about $121,000. But with cuts in state aid, Department of Transportation funds and recycling money – and added expenses – Baumeister said Tuesday said the town needed to tighten its belt. The town absorbed about a $100,000 in cuts in state aid.
“We haven’t cut any services or anything,” she explained.
The mill rate for the town – assuming it passes a vote on Nov. 29 – will still be $2.56 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Baumeister said the process kind of “worked itself out,” what with the cuts at the policing level and some other small increases in revenue.
She could not name examples, saying the majority of the situations were small bits “here and there.”
“Everything kind of just worked itself through,” Baumeister said.
The annual budget meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. Baumeister is hopeful it will be uneventful.
“We haven’t raised taxes, so everybody should be happy,” Baumeister said.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker basically froze all tax levies in the state, with the exception of debt service or tax increases approved by referendum.
The town dealt with that issue during the policing decision, declining to send the idea of raised taxes to the populace for a vote.
Town Board member Tyson Fettes said the board put in a lot of work during the summer months and managed to find a way to hold the rate flat.
“This will be our fifth straight year in a row of holding the tax rate flat,” “We’ve been able to maintain the same level of services without any additional burden to the taxpayers.
“We worked diligently to find creative ways to get the job done.”
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I am glad to see that taxes aren’t going up, but the $120,000
in savings is very misleading. None among the Town Supervisors
ever mentioned the over $80,000 that was given as severence to disband the Police Department. The initial deficit projection to
keep the Police Department wasn’t even that much.
Perhaps next year we could contract out the Highway Department to save more money.
By the way, I haven’t seen a squad go by my house in a month !
Well I haven’t seen a squad either but i can tell you where they are, sitting on the bypass,just like the state. Why doesn’t the board sell that fancy desk in Diane’s office and extra furniture from the PD and I am sure the highway dept has extra pieces of furniture that could be sold,Even the furniture in the other side of the office by jack’s area. we also need a new clerk in court system to get our money, Would like to know how long we will be township. also is there an island formed by Teut RD with property that was annexed this year per agreement with town a number of years ago. approx 10 years
Wow, listen to the whiney dullards. To think that you two were once in town government is scary. You know a squad hasn’t been by your house because all you have to do is sit in your front window 24/7/365 and wait for one to pass by, right?
Mannkel, I have never even heard of you…. if that is indeed your real name. If mentioning the FACT that Bohners Lake(and my
neughborhood ) is patroled less is whining then so be it. If you think that the unfamiliar Racine Co. Sherrif’s Dept. will find you
and your neighbor’s home quickly in an emergency… I wish you well.
By the way, at least Ms. Ruud and I got involved. The Town of Burlington is always looking for help. Step up !!
I think tho in your case, it is easier to hide behind internet postings.
Don Colagrossi