Town of Germantown
Official Website of the Town of Germantown, Juneau County, WIPublic Hearing on the Budget
Minutes
Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
November 15, 2022
6:05 p.m.
Present: Chairman Gregg Haunroth, Supervisors Ken Jax, Keith Korbein, Jim Collis, Ray Feldman, Zoning Administrator Dick Martin, Emergency Management Director Christopher Leopold, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein
Absent: Clerk/Treasurer Susan Ganther,
Also Present: 40 residents eligible to vote in the Town of Germantown, of which 1 left during the hearing, and 1 property owner who was not eligible to vote in the Town of Germantown
Chairman Haunroth opened the public hearing for the proposed 2023 budget at 6:05 pm to hear comments on the proposed 2023 budget.
Discussion included the difference between the proposed expenditures and anticipated revenue, which was $85,000 more in additional expenses than revenues. That difference comes from unanticipated increases in fire service and ambulance service fees. Both are essential services that municipalities are mandated to provide.
It was explained that the Town’s budget can only go up as determined by the tax levy worksheet. This year we were allowed a budget increase of approximately $5600, which is a percentage of new construction and doesn’t begin to cover the shortfall.
For fire services we have no governing say in our cost, but our Board is required to provide this essential service to the town and pay the bill. New Lisbon and Necedah both provide fire service to Germantown, and both have had cost increases due to purchases.
The fees for ambulance services have increased mainly due to inflationary pressures. The Town Board does have a little control over as both Chairman Haunroth and Supervisor Korbein are on the MAAA board. Ambulance costs to municipalities are from a formula that is based not one but all three: number of calls in municipality, population of municipality, and assessed value of municipality. MAAA has gotten and received grants in the past couple years that have been a big help.
Just some of the questions included looking for other avenues try for other revenues to support the budget including fund raisers and grants, if the requested $85,00 increase would become the new tax base, which was Yes, and if this was done because of the increase in assessments, which was No.
The public hearing was closed at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Michaele Korbein
Deputy Clerk/Treasurer