MONROE - The city budget is on its way to the Common Council for consideration Nov. 15.
City Administrator Phil Rath said the tax levy, including debt service and capital accounts, will be $6,150,231 for 2012, or $70 less than 2011.
The tax rate, however, cannot be set until the city receives the equalized value of all property. That number is expected sometime next month.
"The city has a responsible budget, and it meets the goals set by the Finance and Taxation Committee to not raise the levy, while maintaining the same level of service and staff," Rath said.
The state requires a zero increase in municipalities' levies, but allows for an increase equal to the amount of net new construction.
Based on net new construction, the city could have increased its levy by more than $50,000. The Finance and Taxation Committee instructed Rath to hold the levy at a zero-percent increase, including debt service and capital accounts. The city legally could have disregarded debt service, money spent for repayment of bonds, and capital accounts, money set aside to save for anticipated large purchases, when budgeting within the levy limit.
At a meeting Oct. 26, committee members looked at the budgets of the municipal utilities, which are funded by user fees, and budgeted $22,500 for the Green County Humane Society, up $7,500 from 2011.
Rath said the humane society had requested $15,000 more this year, for a total $30,000 for 2012. GCHS officials requested more money because, they said, the city has a higher percentage of stray animals turned in to the shelter compared to other municipalities.
The budget passed 3-1, with Alderman Tyler Schultz voting against.
Rath said a discussion after the meeting between committee members and other aldermen raised the question of dividing funds to Green County Development Corporation, which was budgeted at $28,670, into payments.
No decision about the payment method was made, he said, but because the budget had already been passed out of committee, an amendment to make any changes could be made at full council.
- Tere Dunlap
City Administrator Phil Rath said the tax levy, including debt service and capital accounts, will be $6,150,231 for 2012, or $70 less than 2011.
The tax rate, however, cannot be set until the city receives the equalized value of all property. That number is expected sometime next month.
"The city has a responsible budget, and it meets the goals set by the Finance and Taxation Committee to not raise the levy, while maintaining the same level of service and staff," Rath said.
The state requires a zero increase in municipalities' levies, but allows for an increase equal to the amount of net new construction.
Based on net new construction, the city could have increased its levy by more than $50,000. The Finance and Taxation Committee instructed Rath to hold the levy at a zero-percent increase, including debt service and capital accounts. The city legally could have disregarded debt service, money spent for repayment of bonds, and capital accounts, money set aside to save for anticipated large purchases, when budgeting within the levy limit.
At a meeting Oct. 26, committee members looked at the budgets of the municipal utilities, which are funded by user fees, and budgeted $22,500 for the Green County Humane Society, up $7,500 from 2011.
Rath said the humane society had requested $15,000 more this year, for a total $30,000 for 2012. GCHS officials requested more money because, they said, the city has a higher percentage of stray animals turned in to the shelter compared to other municipalities.
The budget passed 3-1, with Alderman Tyler Schultz voting against.
Rath said a discussion after the meeting between committee members and other aldermen raised the question of dividing funds to Green County Development Corporation, which was budgeted at $28,670, into payments.
No decision about the payment method was made, he said, but because the budget had already been passed out of committee, an amendment to make any changes could be made at full council.
- Tere Dunlap