Prairie du Sac tax levy to increase by 4.8 percent
By Jeremiah Tucker, Sauk Prairie Eagle
Under its proposed budget, the Village of Prairie du Sac will see its capital funds expenditures in 2010 go up by 422.8 percent and its property tax levy jump 4.8 percent.
Despite the increases, village administrator Alan Wildman said there were cuts made across the board.
"The (budget) committee met on the budget and they basically requested departments make 1.8 percent cuts from their requests," Wildman said.
The village board was scheduled to consider the proposed budget Nov. 24 after this edition of the Eagle was published.
The dramatic increase from $427,500 to $2,235,062 for capital investments was due in part to a few last-minute expenses, Wildman said.
Wildman the Wisconsin Department of Transportation informed the village in October that it plans to repave County Road PF in 2010, and the village is responsible for $51,000 of work. The repaving project also pushed up the village’s plans for adding a well in Westwynde Park.
Wildman said it makes sense to extend the water main while the road is already under construction. The total project is estimated to cost $412,000, including the cost for road repairs.
The budget also sets aside $750,000 to renovate 540 Water Street for the new Ruth Culver Community Library. Culver Franchising System Inc. donated the space to the village.
The village also planned for years to refinish 4th street, which is estimated to cost about $1 million.
Wildman said the majority of the capital funds projects will be paid for with borrowed funds.
The general fund expenditures – which includes public works, the police department and village government – increased 1.7 percent over 2009.
Wildman said the reason for the tight budget was because the amount of aide from the state was down by $23,000, and due to the economy, the interest on the village’s investments is down about half from what it’s been in recent years.
Based on preliminary projections, residents in the village of Prairie du Sac will see their total property tax bill go up by about 6.5 percent this year. So a family with a $225,000 home would see its taxes rise by about $300 in 2010.
Selected Prairie du Sac budget expenditures
| Expense | 2009 | 2010 | % increase |
| Capital projects | $427,500 | $2,235,062 | 422.8 |
| Public Safety | $799,607 | $827,914 | 3.5 |
| Public Works | $748,603 | $773,967 | 3.4 |
| Culture, recreation | $434,908 | $415,513 | -4.5 |
| General government | $324,472 | $326,327 | 0.6 |
| Contigency | $28,750 | $32,410 | 12.7 |
| Conservation Dev. | $10,481 | $10,474 | -0.1 |