2016 PLEASANT PRAIRIE BUDGET APPROVED WITH INCREASE IN TAX LEVY TO BOLSTER ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL
During a November 16 meeting, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered and approved the 2016 General Fund Budget. As a result of the approved budget, the municipal tax levy will increase to $11,024,953 in 2016 from $10,081,081 in 2015. The municipal 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.
"While we're proposing an increase in the Village tax levy, the Village has experienced 3.9% growth in new construction over the past year," explained Michael Pollocoff, Village Administrator. "The mill rate will change from $4.42 to $4.64. The impact on the median home in the Village will be about $42, and with that increase, the Village plans to bolster road improvements and public safety personnel."
During 2016, the Village portion of the property tax bill for a median assessed home in Pleasant Prairie will increase by approximately $42, while the overall property tax bill will increase by approximately $85. For a median valued home in the Village ($191,600), the Village portion of the property tax will equate to approximately $889, while the overall property tax bill will be approximately $4,296 (before credits) during 2016. Pleasant Prairie will receive approximately 21% of a resident's total property tax payment, while KUSD, Kenosha County, Gateway, the library system, and the State of Wisconsin combined will receive the remaining 79%.
In the 2016 budget: funding for road paving and improvements will increase by approximately 60% from $1 million to $1.6 million; two additional police officers will be funded to manage increasing call volume; and additional part-time hours for the Fire & Rescue Department will be funded. Proposed large capital expenditures include a new ladder truck to replace a 1988 vehicle and the addition of a storage building at the Prange Municipal Center to allow for indoor storage of all public works equipment.
"As a municipal government, our work is to provide services to our citizens," explained Pollocoff. "Our goal is to keep our community resilient and able to confidently face the future and all of its uncertainty as it arises. We aim to achieve this with high quality staff and by ensuring that new development will add value to the Village." More information about the 2016 budget is available by clicking here and viewing the November 16 2015 Village Board e-packet.