MONROE - Monroe is the only community among a sampling of 10 other comparably-sized cities in Wisconsin to lose population over the past 14 years.
Monroe has lost an estimated 0.1 percent of its population since the 2000 census, from 10,843 to 10,832 people. No other city in the comparison survey decreased in population. Population increases ranged from 67 percent in Verona to 4.7 percent in Portage. Verona's population grew from 7,000 to 11,800, and Portage grew from 9,700 to 10,200.
The statistic is just one of the statistics gathered by Martin Shanks, assistant city administrator, to show how Monroe stacks up against 10 other communities of similar size.
Also noteworthy among Shanks' findings:
Taxes
Property tax rates per $1,000 of value increased from $9.99 in 2012 to $10.36 in 2014. The 2014 rate was 1.8 percent higher than the 2011 tax rate of $10.17.
Monroe had the lowest four-year hike in tax rates in the survey. Reedsburg had the greatest rate hike, from $8.05 in 2011 to $10.56 percent in 2014, a 31.2 percent increase. Among other communities, tax rate hikes ranged from 5.5 percent higher in Verona to 16.3 percent higher in Stoughton.
Monroe ranked third highest in its tax rate in 2014, coming in after Reedsburg with $10.56 per $1,000 of property value and Baraboo with $10.49. The lowest ranked community was Stoughton at $8.47 per $1,000 of property value.
When adjusted for inflation using 2011 as a base, Monroe's tax rate in 2014 was 3.8 percent lower than in 2011. Reedsburg's inflation-adjusted rate in 2014 was 23.9 percent higher than in 2011. Other communities' 2014 adjusted rates compared to 2011 ranged from 9.8 percent higher in Stoughton to 0.48 percent lower in Verona.
The amount of taxes levied grew from 2011 to 2014 in all communities except Portage, which saw a 0.5 percent drop, from $4.84 million to $4.82 million. Monroe's levy grew the least, 1.9 percent, among those surveyed.
Monroe taxes grew from $6.15 million to $6.27 million. Reedsburg levy amount grew the most, from $4.58 million to $5.28 million, or 13.2 percent in the four-year period. Levied amounts grew in other communities from 3.91 percent in Fort Atkinson to 9.52 percent in Elkhorn.
Adjustments for inflation showed the Monroe levy amount was down 3.7 percent in 2014 compared to 2011. Reedsburg's levy amount grew 8.8 percent in the four-year period. Other communities' adjusted levy amounts ranged from 6.1 percent lower in Portage to 2.9 percent higher in Verona.
City staffing
Included in the survey, but not compared to other cities, were city staff numbers. The numbers show less employees are working fewer hours overall.
From 2010 to 2013, Monroe's total city staff hours of work decreased 4.13 percent, from 241,220 to 231,260 hours.
Public safety (police and fire) work hours dropped 3.5 percent, from 91,400 to 88,200 hours. Public works hours dropped 7.12 percent, from 65,700 to 61,000 hours. Recreation and the senior center increased work by 8 percent, from 25,400 to 27,400 hours.
Hours worked in general government administration were down 6.14 percent, from 23,500 to 22,100 hours.
Hours worked at the wastewater utility were down 18.6 percent, from 21,100 to 17,200 hours. The water utility saw a 10.66 percent increase in hours worked, from 13,200 to 14,600 hours. The airport hours dropped by 16.5 percent from 875 to 731 hours.
The number of employees working for the city was also down, by 10 people, from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, the number of full-time employees was down 3.1 percent, or three people, compared to 2010. Part-time staff was down 12.4 percent, or 12 people. Seasonal employees were down 5.3 percent, or five people.
The city staff was at 278 people in 2014 at the time of the survey. Of those 94 were full-time employees. The largest staff, 94 persons, works in Culture and Recreation departments, but only six are full-time employees. Parks and Recreation hires 85 seasonal employees a year.
Public safety departments employ 85 people; 37 are full-time. The police department has 35 full-time officers, and no part-time or seasonal. The fire department has two full-time staff members and 50 part-time employees, technically volunteer firefighters who are paid only when they are on a call.
Public works employs 39 people, 29 full-time and one part-time. The rest are seasonal. The street department uses most of public works employees, 20 full-time and three seasonal.
Administration employs 41 people; nine are full-time. Thirty-two people are part-time workers: 19 work during elections and 10 are the elected officials.
Water utilities employ 13 full-time persons and two part-time. Water and wastewater utilities are in the process of cross-training their personnel.
The airport hires four seasonal employees.
Monroe has lost an estimated 0.1 percent of its population since the 2000 census, from 10,843 to 10,832 people. No other city in the comparison survey decreased in population. Population increases ranged from 67 percent in Verona to 4.7 percent in Portage. Verona's population grew from 7,000 to 11,800, and Portage grew from 9,700 to 10,200.
The statistic is just one of the statistics gathered by Martin Shanks, assistant city administrator, to show how Monroe stacks up against 10 other communities of similar size.
Also noteworthy among Shanks' findings:
Taxes
Property tax rates per $1,000 of value increased from $9.99 in 2012 to $10.36 in 2014. The 2014 rate was 1.8 percent higher than the 2011 tax rate of $10.17.
Monroe had the lowest four-year hike in tax rates in the survey. Reedsburg had the greatest rate hike, from $8.05 in 2011 to $10.56 percent in 2014, a 31.2 percent increase. Among other communities, tax rate hikes ranged from 5.5 percent higher in Verona to 16.3 percent higher in Stoughton.
Monroe ranked third highest in its tax rate in 2014, coming in after Reedsburg with $10.56 per $1,000 of property value and Baraboo with $10.49. The lowest ranked community was Stoughton at $8.47 per $1,000 of property value.
When adjusted for inflation using 2011 as a base, Monroe's tax rate in 2014 was 3.8 percent lower than in 2011. Reedsburg's inflation-adjusted rate in 2014 was 23.9 percent higher than in 2011. Other communities' 2014 adjusted rates compared to 2011 ranged from 9.8 percent higher in Stoughton to 0.48 percent lower in Verona.
The amount of taxes levied grew from 2011 to 2014 in all communities except Portage, which saw a 0.5 percent drop, from $4.84 million to $4.82 million. Monroe's levy grew the least, 1.9 percent, among those surveyed.
Monroe taxes grew from $6.15 million to $6.27 million. Reedsburg levy amount grew the most, from $4.58 million to $5.28 million, or 13.2 percent in the four-year period. Levied amounts grew in other communities from 3.91 percent in Fort Atkinson to 9.52 percent in Elkhorn.
Adjustments for inflation showed the Monroe levy amount was down 3.7 percent in 2014 compared to 2011. Reedsburg's levy amount grew 8.8 percent in the four-year period. Other communities' adjusted levy amounts ranged from 6.1 percent lower in Portage to 2.9 percent higher in Verona.
City staffing
Included in the survey, but not compared to other cities, were city staff numbers. The numbers show less employees are working fewer hours overall.
From 2010 to 2013, Monroe's total city staff hours of work decreased 4.13 percent, from 241,220 to 231,260 hours.
Public safety (police and fire) work hours dropped 3.5 percent, from 91,400 to 88,200 hours. Public works hours dropped 7.12 percent, from 65,700 to 61,000 hours. Recreation and the senior center increased work by 8 percent, from 25,400 to 27,400 hours.
Hours worked in general government administration were down 6.14 percent, from 23,500 to 22,100 hours.
Hours worked at the wastewater utility were down 18.6 percent, from 21,100 to 17,200 hours. The water utility saw a 10.66 percent increase in hours worked, from 13,200 to 14,600 hours. The airport hours dropped by 16.5 percent from 875 to 731 hours.
The number of employees working for the city was also down, by 10 people, from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, the number of full-time employees was down 3.1 percent, or three people, compared to 2010. Part-time staff was down 12.4 percent, or 12 people. Seasonal employees were down 5.3 percent, or five people.
The city staff was at 278 people in 2014 at the time of the survey. Of those 94 were full-time employees. The largest staff, 94 persons, works in Culture and Recreation departments, but only six are full-time employees. Parks and Recreation hires 85 seasonal employees a year.
Public safety departments employ 85 people; 37 are full-time. The police department has 35 full-time officers, and no part-time or seasonal. The fire department has two full-time staff members and 50 part-time employees, technically volunteer firefighters who are paid only when they are on a call.
Public works employs 39 people, 29 full-time and one part-time. The rest are seasonal. The street department uses most of public works employees, 20 full-time and three seasonal.
Administration employs 41 people; nine are full-time. Thirty-two people are part-time workers: 19 work during elections and 10 are the elected officials.
Water utilities employ 13 full-time persons and two part-time. Water and wastewater utilities are in the process of cross-training their personnel.
The airport hires four seasonal employees.