Town tax rate to climb with EMS funding, raises in budget

Tax rates in the Town of Grafton may go up by less than 3% next month, but increasing property values will make some residents feel a heavier punch.

The town’s 2025 budget, which was expected to be reviewed by the Town Board on Wednesday, sets next year’s tax rate at about $1.95 per $1,000 in home value — an increase of about 2.8%, or 6 cents from last year’s rate.

Nevertheless, many town residents will see a higher tax bill as the town’s property values increased by an average of about 9.3% due to a reassessment this year. The town’s total value went from about $892 million to $984 million.

The proposed property tax levy is about $1.9 million, up from last year’s $1.5 million levy.

That levy spike is almost entirely from a $400,000 levy increase for fire and emergency medical services approved by voters in April.

The total proposed budget came in at about $2.3 million.

Last week, Town Chairman Lester Bartel said the budget is “by and large business as usual.”

It will keep the town on top of road maintenance and continue to fund basic services, he said, while keeping tax bills reasonable.

The budget funds a new deputy clerk position and gives raises to the town’s elected officials while cutting the library budget.

The budget would give the town chairman a 75% raise — moving his salary from $14,500 to $25,375 a year — and double plan commissioner’s salaries from $600 to $1,200, as well as raise town supervisor salaries by $900, going from $4,800 to $5,100 a year.

Bartel said he did not request a raise, but pointed out that the responsibilities of the town chairman occupy a good portion of his day and that the position requires a lot of experience.

“That isn’t a position you can just quit one day,” he said. “The truth of the matter is that if somebody isn’t ready to take over what I do, then they’re going to have to hire a full-time administrator.”

It’s not a given that Bartel or the current board members will receive the raises since the increases would not start until the next term.

Earlier this year, the town notified the village of its intention to terminate its more than 60-year-old library agreement with the village next year after its expected share of the cost increased by almost $40,000 this year.

The budget would add a deputy clerk position with a salary of $50,000. Bartel said the new employee would initially assist Clerk Sara Jacoby and Treasurer Bonnie Bartel, Lester’s wife, but eventually be trained to replace Bonnie, who he said is approaching retirement.