West Baraboo tax rate likely to remain unchanged
By Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
West Baraboo village officials are asking for a 3 percent increase in the tax levy for 2009 and anticipate the tax rate will stay the same as for 2008. The 2009 village budget will be presented to the public during a hearing at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 in the village hall, 500 Cedar St. The property tax levy will rise about 3 percent from $820,500 for 2008 to $847,300 in the 2009 budget, said Village Clerk Mary Klingenmeyer. Because of a bureaucratic mistake, state officials have not yet provided the village with official figures needed to calculate the actual tax rate, she said. However, it should be "within a few cents" of the rate for 2008, $7.21 per $1,000 of property value, she said. In addition to the tax levy, about $146,000 in state and federal government aid and $150,000 in taxes on hotel rooms in West Baraboo are part of the village budget. Despite the slowing economy, Klingenmeyer said they estimated room tax income should be about the same as this year. "My opinion is people will perhaps stay closer to home and not travel so far, so maybe our room tax will continue to remain at its level," she said. The budget calls for about $351,000 in street construction work during 2009, said Public Works Director Bob DeMars. The projects include installing a new water main and pavement on Tinkham Trail and Chestnut Street, he said. Curb and gutter along those streets will be left in place. Log Lodge Court will get a new pavement, curb and gutter. However, DeMars said Log Lodge Court does not need repairs to its utility lines. Costs for the street construction will come from a bond sale during 2009, not the year's tax levy, said Village President Bruce Meyer. "We've tried to handle some capital outlay each year," said Trustee Elgin Bulin. "Or every other year, we try to have some project." The village is not buying any big new equipment in 2009, and the salaries of village employees are staying the same, Meyer said. In the public safety budget for things like crossing guards, fire and ambulance service, costs for the ambulance have dropped by half from nearly $40,000 to $19,000. Meyer noted the Baraboo District Ambulance Service is bringing in more revenue by billing insurance companies, becoming "more self-sufficient," he said. Meyer noted the village also proposes to construct a community water well to replace purchases of the village's water supply from the city of Baraboo. The board will approve borrowing for that project and the well is not in the current budget, he said. Total spending for village operations in 2009 will be about $1.58 million, down about 1 percent from $1.61 million this year, according to the budget. West Baraboo street projects 2009 * Tinkham Trail and Chestnut Street - replace water main and pavement. Curb and gutter left in place * Log Lodge Court - new pavement, curb and gutter, no utilities. * Projected costs about $351,000 generated by bond sale during 2009 2009 West Baraboo budget 2007 2008 2009 Revenues: Property tax levy $751,300 $820,500 $847,300 Room taxes $174,300 $150,000 $150,000 State aid, etc. $139,000 $183,700 $146,000 Total revenues $2.52M* $1.46M $1.58M