GERMANTOWN—The Town Board met on November 5 to continue the Public Hearing on the 2016 budget and then approve the $1.4 million spending plan. It comes with a small reduction in the tax levy.
There was no public comment on the budget and, after a brief discussion, the board unanimously adopted it. Michael Mortenson was the only councilman absent.
The total appropriations for the town are $625,498 for the General Fund, $584,610 for the Highway Fund, for a total of $1,210,108. In addition, the sewer district costs $184,275 and the lighting district costs $6,500, for a grand total of $1,400,883.
Estimated revenues are $391,415 for the General Fund, $102,246 for the Highway Fund, totaling $493,661. The sewer district brings in $167,440 and the lighting district $100, for total revenues of $661,161.
The town plans to use unexpended balances to the tune of $119,804 for the General Fund, $52,000 for the Highway Fund and $16,875 for the sewer district, for a total of $188,679.
This helps reduce the amount to be raised by taxes to $114,279 for the General Fund, $430,364 for the Highway Fund and $6,400 for the lighting district, for a total of $551,043.
That amount is $41,783 less than was raised for the 2015 budget, resulting in a tax levy decrease of 0.076%, keeping the town’s tax levy well below the state cap, which for Germantown is 0.73%.
The tax levy no longer includes the Germantown Library, which is now a separate item on property owners’ tax bills.
