Street projects, DPW building factor into village’s increase
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Although the Village of Union Grove operating budget will decrease in 2012, the property tax levy will rise as ongoing efforts to fund past work in the community continues.
The Village Board last week approved a budget that includes a 9 percent increase in the levy. Village officials are also infusing an additional $151,940 of taxpayer dollars into the budget.
“(The increase) is necessary due to the borrowing we’ve taken out for street projects and the (Department of Public Works) building,” Village Clerk-Treasurer Jan Winget explained.
“We had quite a bit going on this year.”
About a year ago, village officials moved swiftly to address deficiencies at the former DPW building. Public Works Director Mark Osmundsen explained it lacked adequate space for the department’s equipment and salt storage.
In April, the department moved into a new facility, 19326 County Line Road.
Although additional dollars are being funneled into the village’s debt service fund, Winget said the general operating fund – the portion of the budget that funds day-to-day operations – is decreasing $85,340.
Union Grove – like all communities across Wisconsin – is receiving less money from the state for recycling and highway maintenance.
Some of these losses were offset by higher employee health and retirement contribution guidelines from Gov. Scott Walker’s Act 10 legislation.
Upcoming projects. In terms of capital projects, the village is planning storm water and street improvements in two specific areas of the community – near the elementary school and within a residential area – though Winget said some of the finer points are still being worked out.
“The money is in the budget, but everything remains tentative as we look at pricing,” she said.
“The engineers have to look at (the plans). It’s possible all of this could be tied into other projects.”
The Village Board also set rates for Union Grove’s storm water utility. The equivalent residential unit (ERU) figure is remaining flat in year-to-year comparisons at $87.32 per year or $21.83 quarterly.
One recently completed capital improvement project is not being funded with any village money.
Graham Public Library is in the midst of an extensive renovation project valued at $250,000. The work is being funded within the library’s own budget and from a private donation from an estate.
Work at the library includes a new furnace, new lighting and roof insulation. A number of energy-efficient projects also are under way, including new windows that are aimed at reducing heat loss.
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