Politics & Government

Sturtevant Taxes Going Up 3 Cents

Village trustees will take several steps to balance the budget for 2012.

Well, there's good news and bad news, as usual, when it comes to property taxes.

The good news is that mil rates will rise only three cents. The bad news is that Sturtevant residents will see an increase in their property tax bills, from $7.516 per $1,000 of assessed value to $7.54 for that same $1,000. For a $200,000 home, property owners can expect to pay $1,508.16 in 2012 compared to $1,503,17 in 2011, a $4.99.

Village residents have yet to see what the new rates will be for ,, and , but each of those taxing bodies is expected to raise mil rates to make up for cuts in state aid.

Find out what's happening in Mount Pleasant-Sturtevantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Like most Wisconsin municipalities, Sturtevant is restricted by levy limits by the biennial budget signed into law last June. In a nutshell, the village (or city or town) can't raise the levy to cover any costs unless there is an equal percentage of new growth. Because Sturtevant had .83 percent new growth in 2011, the levy can go up 1 percent. By comparison, the village experienced growth of 8.4 percent in 2007; 7.2 percent in 2008; and almost 4.5 percent in 2009.

Why does that matter?

Find out what's happening in Mount Pleasant-Sturtevantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The cost of materials the village needs for day-to-day operations usually increases every year. Rising prices for the fuel to gas up the trucks, maintenance to keep those trucks running, salt to make roadways safer in the winter and health insurance all require increased revenues. Still, there are no new fees in the budget for any village services.

As prepared by Village Administrator Mark Janiuk, the 2012 Sturtevant budget does not include any new wage increases and, in fact, leaves some positions vacant, eliminates a part-time police officer and further reduces Janiuk's hours. Additionally, employees will pay an additional $1,000 toward their health insurance and retirement plans.

"This budget was prepared after months of discussions with the trustees," Janiuk wrote in his summary. "(It is) less than a status quo budget but ... will still provide the necessary basic services to the citizens of Sturtevant."

Total operating cost for the village in 2012 is expected to be $3.8 million, compared to $3.9 million in 2011.

Sturtevant trustees will discuss the 2012 budget at the Oct. 11 Committee Meeting. A public hearing for residents is scheduled for Nov. 1, and the budget is expected to get approved at the Nov. 15 Village Board meeting.

Both Committee and Village Board meetings begin 6 pm at Village Hall, 2801 89th Street. Call (262) 886-7200.


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