GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET
Pleasant Prairie’s General Government Budget determines how much the Village will need to collect in property taxes in order to cover operating and capital expenses for the year. Annually, department heads work with the Village Administrator to revise budgets to meet public service expectations in the most efficient manner possible while working to protect our community’s infrastructure. The Village Board then reviews and questions individual components of proposed budgets and requests modifications if warranted. The Board holds the ultimate responsibility for approving or rejecting the budget.
BUDGET'S IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAX
After holding a public hearing in November, the Village Board approved the final version of the 2015 General Government Budget. As approved, the 2015 budget will result in a $558,671 increase in the property tax levy, from $9,522,410 in 2014 to $10,081,081 in 2015. The property tax levy is the dollar amount to be collected through the property tax in order to cover expenses for providing municipal services in the community.
As a point of reference, for a home in the Village valued at $191,600, this will translate into a $26 increase in the Village portion of your property tax bill, with a total Village property tax of $847 for the year. Though the Village collects your entire property tax on behalf of Kenosha Unified School District, Kenosha County, the Village, Gateway Technical College, the public library system and the State of Wisconsin, the Village keeps and uses only 20% of your payment. On page two of the December Village Newsletter, you can learn how the 20% will be spent.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTY TAX BILL
The Village budget has grown in proportion to new construction that has occurred in our community. This will allow the Village to spread the cost of services across a broader tax base. Additionally, the State Legislature has reduced the amount of property tax paid for vocational education and public school education, further reducing the typical residential property tax bill.
BUDGETING OBJECTIVE
During 2015, the Village has planned to increase the number of dollars spent on roads and on Police Department staffing while working to complete improvements to the Fire Department infrastructure that will serve the Village over the next several decades.
In the coming year, the Village will continue to focus efforts on public safety services, while also working to keep our community nimble enough to respond to and bounce back quickly from future uncertainties. By clicking "View PDF" below, you can read about more projects planned as part of the 2015 General Government Budget.