The Village of Pleasant Prairie will hold a Public Hearing for its proposed 2010 General Fund budget on Monday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. The proposed budget, if approved, will result in a 3.92% increase in the Village tax levy. For a home in the Village valued at $242,600, this will translate into a $3.71 increase in the Village portion of the property tax bill. Pleasant Prairie’s portion accounts for approximately 19% of the average resident’s property tax bill.
The 2009 Village tax levy was $8,493,386, while the proposed 2010 levy is $8,826,652, an increase of $333,266. Though the Village trimmed operating expenses for 2010 by $160,000, revenue (or income) from non-property tax sources is expected to decrease by more than $400,000. The decrease in revenue necessitated the increase in the tax levy to cover operating costs. The anticipated decrease in revenue is in large part due to the decline in permits and fees related to new construction and development in the Village. The tax levy increase translates into a $.015 increase in the Mill Rate, bringing the Mill Rate for 2010 to $3.395. Between 2002 and 2007, the Mill Rate had decreased from $4.46 to $3.10; due to growth in the community and the Village having complied with self-imposed and State-imposed levy limits.
“In order to make this budget balance within the State levy limit, we’ve initiated a general freeze on employee salaries and looked at additional ways to save personnel costs,” explained Village Administrator Mike Pollocoff. “I’ve spoken with our employees,” Pollocoff added, “and I have advised them of the need for a cautious approach to the next year or so.” Village department heads began working on their 2010 proposed budgets this past summer and held a public working session to review them on October 29. The proposed General Fund budget was formally presented to the Village Board on November 2. During the Public Hearing, the Village Board will hear residents input prior to voting on the 2010 budget.
For more information on the proposed budget, please click here.