By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Seventy percent of the nearly 100 residents in attendance voted in favor of a 2012-13 budget of more than $400,000 at the Waterford Waterway Management District’s annual meeting Saturday.
Sixty of the 86 registered voters in attendance favored the budget of $427,398.76, which will fund operations beginning next month. To make ends meet, the budget includes a $50 increase, per riparian owner, for special charges.
WWMD has historically used a fraction of the money it has budgeted each year. For instance, officials project carrying over $188,758.76 in unspent money from the 2011-12 budget into the just adopted budget for the upcoming year.
Officials assert the surplus of money eventually will be spent, funding two of the weighty projects – dredging work and plant harvesting – that are in the preliminary phases.
“We’ve been doing this so we can build up some funds for this work,” Commissioner Brian Marx said.
The budgetary portion of the annual meeting was facilitated by Jeff Thornton, a representative with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC). Annually, Thornton said the goal is to make the budget building and adoption process as transparent as possible to the greater community.
“Each year, you as residents have an opportunity to see how your money is spent,” Thornton said.
The meeting kicked off with an extensive, detailed presentation of the budget that was created by the board. Afterward, residents in attendance were given an opportunity to provide amendments.
Resident Dan Dickerson attempted, unsuccessfully, to lower the district’s administrative budget. His motion also attempted to lower the special charge by $12 per property owner. Had it moved forward, riparians would have paid $38, rather than $50.
“I think this would help ease the burden on the riparians,” Dickerson said. “What I’m trying to do here is make this more palatable.”
While residents ultimately have their say with the budget, Commissioner Barbara Baron said there could be unintended consequences if the budget had been tweaked.
“You wouldn’t be allowed to come in here next May and say you want something done because there won’t be the money available,” Baron said. “You can’t get your cake and eat it as well.”
Proponents of the budget cited a desire to move forward with improvements to the bodies of water within WWMD’s scope. One resident spoke out against Dickerson’s proposed budget reduction, equating the amount saved, by property owner, to the cost of one soda per month.
Dickinson’s unsuccessful motion specifically targeted the administrative budget, which has $17,300 built in this coming year, compared to the estimated $4,500 spent in 2011-12.
WWMD board members said the rationale behind the proposed spending increase is linked to the dredging and plant harvesting projects that could require the assistance of an expert.
This coming year, the WWMD board is earmarking $152,000 toward the dredging work and $145,000 toward plant harvesting.
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