Village approves budget that promises tax relief

The Fredonia Village Board approved a 2024 budget that calls for a substantially lower tax rate but a higher property tax levy at last Thursday’s meeting.

The village experienced net new construction of 3.3%, which is the highest rate of any municipality in Ozaukee County. This allows the village to increase its general levy by $34,459.

The proposed budget calls for a drop in the tax rate from $6.18 to $5.89 per $1,000 of assessed value.

That means the owner of a house with an assessed value of $250,000 would pay $1,473 in village property taxes, down from $1,545.

“Village residents will see a savings and that’s what is good here,” Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins said. “This growth and the ability to give some reprieve to our taxpayers is something we should all be proud of.”

The village budget also reflects a significant increase in state shared revenue of 35% due to the passage of Act 12, recently enacted legislation that makes changes to the way local government is impacted by Wisconsin’s shared revenue program.

The budget sets aside $50,000 for street maintenance, a large change from last year’s budget, which only reserved $10,000.

Jenkins said this is a result of the recommendations from the Public Works Committee and his transportation plan.

The plan also reserves around $1.3 million for capital projects — most of which is dedicated to the planned reconstruction of Highland Drive.

The reconstruction project is budgeted to cost $1.17 million.

The capital projects also include money for a splash pad, skid steer, Department of Public Works truck, security cameras, board room microphones, a mower, computer updates, welcome signs and new park tables.

That money will help maintain the newly created water and wastewater testing lab “which hopes to generate passive income for the village as a whole,” according to a press release from the village.

Additionally, the budget shows the village borrowing $3.5 million for the Tax Incremental District 3 industrial park to complete the road and utility build out of Innovation Drive in 2024.

The TID, for the second year, is budgeted to generate positive increment and interest of $105,000. The budget projects $44,000 in earned interest on debt proceeds.

The village also budgeted a 10% increase in payroll expenses to reflect merit-based wage increases.

“This is a budget that effectively supports all of our operations within the village,” Finance Committee Chairman Joshua Haas said. “It supports our staff who continue to go above and beyond. It supports the capital investments we continue to make for our residents, businesses and community partners. And it does so while giving our taxpayers some much-needed breathing room.”