WAUPUN — No one spoke up at last night’s public hearing on the city budget, and nobody had to. If the council votes in their plan on Nov. 24, there will be no tax levy increase.
“In fact, the tax rate in Fond du Lac County will go down 14 cents to $6.34 per $1,000, and the tax rate will go down four cents in Dodge County from $6.23 cents per $1,000 to $6.19 per $1,000,” said city clerk/treasurer Kyle Clark.
“We’ve never had a zero percent tax levy without being penalized,” said a smiling Mayor Jodi Steger.
Interim city administrator Ed Madere said the city needed $600,000 to meet its budget without raising taxes, and was pleased with department heads for cutting their budgets to accommodate.
“We’re giving the taxpayer a break, but it won’t affect next year,” said Alderman Jim Van Buren.
Alderman Dale Schmidt said, “We’re looking to bring people and businesses into Waupun and they look at things like the crime rate, and are the streets plowed.”
Schmidt indicated he was pleased to have no levy increase this year but said the council can’t keep downsizing if it will ever affect the health or safety of the community.
On another matter, Jay Graff, a retired military man, asked the city to consider allowing some city land to be used for an armored vehicle display.
“These would be things like disabled tanks,” he said. “They would be permanent.”
Schmidt suggested he talk to Becky Smith, the parks and recreation department head.
“I’d be happy to help,” said Smith. “I saw tanks in parks while growing up and thought they were cool.”