Oct. 22, 2014

By Michael Riley

The city of Whitewater’s approximate $9.5 million balanced municipal budget for 2015 calls for a 1 percent increase in both the total operating budget and property tax levy from the 2014 budget.

City Manager Cameron Clapper presented the $9,472,401 budget to the Whitewater Common Council at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the Whitewater Municipal Building.

The city’s proposed operating budget totals $94,360 more than last year because of an increase in debt service and construction around the community, Clapper said. The debt service will increase by 4.9 percent and will cost each citizen 4.6 cents per $1,000 in property value.

The total allowable property tax levy sits at $2,499,974, which is an increase of $26,006, compared to last year’s budget due to a new net construction calculation of .99 percent, Clapper said.

The city’s main revenues – money received by the city – according to Clapper are included as followed:
•A city agreement with UW-Whitewater about the installation of new police dispatch technology will provide approximately $169,000 in payments.
•State funding for providing municipal services to a university will increase by 1 percent in 2015 total $361,850 in payments.
•Shared revenue aid from the state will experience no change from 2014.
•Utility shared revenue payments total $475,869 due to annual decreases.
•Transportation aids set to increase by 3 percent totaling $716,101 in payments.

The city’s main expenditures – what the money will be spent on – according to Clapper are included as followed:
•Debt service will increase by 4.9 percent.
•City wage increases stay on hold until the completion of a wage study, but $87,000 has been set aside in the Contingencies budget in anticipation of adjustments.
•Worker compensation insurance will decrease due to the reduced amount of work-related injuries.

The formal public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the Whitewater Municipal Building remains the final opportunity for citizen input concerning the budget. After the hearing, the budget will be voted on and if successful, passed into law.

Until the public hearing, the council will review the proposed budget on Oct. 28, Nov. 6 and Nov. 11 in an effort to review and revise.