COMMON COUNCIL Minutes - 10/21/2019
Unapproved
CITY OF MUSKEGO
COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES
October 21, 2019
6:00 PM
Muskego City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine
Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Alderpersons Wolfe, Hammel, Borgman, Kapusta, Engelhardt, Kubacki and
Madden. Also present: Finance and Administration Director Mueller, Finance and
Administration Assistant Director Mustapich.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
Director Mueller stated the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting
law.
PUBLIC HEARING
To hear any citizen on the proposed 2020 City Budget.
Mayor Chiaverotti declared the hearing open.
Ms. Mustapich reviewed an overview of the proposed 2020 budget with the use of a
Power Point presentation. The presentation provided a summary of the General
Operating, Debt Service, Special Revenue and Capital Budget funds. At the
October 8, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting, certain amendments to the General
Operating Budget were recommended, which include an increase to the Mayoral and
Municipal Judge salaries, additional contributions to the Senior Taxi Program, Little
Muskego Lake District and Lake Denoon Lake District, and lastly a 3% Hydrant Rental
adjustment to reflect the proposed Simplified Water Utility Rate increase.
Financial Summary
The 2020 Levy adjustment includes a $64,911 reduction of Tax Increment District
funding, a $50,655.00 Debt Service Levy increase to maintain and plan for affordable
future debt levels, and an additional $91,864.00 for various General Operations
expenditure increases. It should be noted that reduction in net Liability Insurance,
Inspection Service Fees and Recreation Program Expenditures will offset the proposed
employee wage and benefit adjustments.
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October 21, 2019
City Tax Levy/Rate
As for the City Tax Levy, the State mandate restriction to net new growth amounted to
$184,768.00 or 1.049%. However, due to prior year levy limit legislative changes, this
amount is further reduced by an additional $42,249.00 of Personal Property aid.
In order to fund the inflationary expenditure increases noted earlier, the 2020 budget is
proposed to utilize the entire allowable amount of $142,519.00. Conversely, the
estimated City tax rate is anticipated to decrease by $0.03 cents to $4.47/$1,000 of
assessed value mainly because of the approximate $180 million increase in equalized
value.
Of the total $13.4 million tax levy, $10.8 million will fund expenditures for basic
operations in the General Fund, $2.2 million will be dedicated for Principle & Interest
payments and $483,000.00 will be applied towards the active Tax District Increments.
Revenue and Expenditure Categories
Ms. Mustapich next reviewed the slides that summarized the General Fund Revenue
and Expenditure categories reflecting a balanced increase of $216,660.00 or 1.37%.
This increase amounts to a monthly cost of approximately $53 per capita using the
latest population estimate of 24,999, and remains equal to the prior year calculation.
Of total revenues, approximately 80.5% are generated from Taxes and
Intergovernmental State Aids. The reductions shown in Public Charges for Services
and Permits are offset by relative decreases in recreational expenditures resulting from
competitive summer program activities, as well as Building Inspection service fees due
to a slight decline in development.
The leading City expenditures continue to be within the Public Safety category,
amounting to 45.8% of total General Fund Operating Costs, and include Police,
Dispatcher, Volunteer Fire and Building Inspection Services.
Debt Service Fund
The Debt Service Fund is used to account for the principal and interest payments on
all General Obligation debt. Funding sources include property taxes, tax incremental
financing, conservation fund reimbursement and interest earnings.
For the current year, the City’s total principal balance outstanding is $46 million,
leaving a debt capacity limit of $111 million or 71.21%.
Future borrowing plans and debt levy projections continue to indicate minimal
increases.
Special Revenue Funds
The expenditure activities for 2020 resulted in a projected grand total for all funds
combined of approximately $5.6 million, which is up by $300,000.00 as compared to
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October 21, 2019
the prior year. The majority of this increase is due to Tax Increment related debt
payments and various park improvements, including the Park Arthur baseball field,
which the Committee of the Whole intends to further discuss alternatives.
Capital Projects
Finally, the 2020 Capital Projects were reviewed, which amount to a net total of
approximately $1.1 million. The entire financing for all items will be funded by Landfill
Host Fees and consist of various technology related and equipment requests from the
Finance, Information Technology, Public Safety and Public Works Departments.
Conclusion
The 2020 Budget Public Hearing Presentation was concluded. It was noted that all
proposed budgets will be considered at the October 22, 2019 Common Council
meeting.
Link to PowerPoint Presentation:
https://www.cityofmuskego.org/DocumentCenter/View/6867/Public-Hearing---2020-
Budget-Presentation
Citizen Input
Jen Mortonson, W158 S7669 Quietwood Drive
Jason Scafe, S73 W14960 Cherrywood Drive
Ms. Mortonson was representing MAA Baseball. Mr. Scafe was representing Muskego
Warriors. A representative from Muskego Storm could not attend the public hearing.
They are requesting the City offset the cost of participant registration for 2020 because
of the increase in field preparation fees for the three baseball organizations.
The Mayor declared the hearing closed.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderperson Kubacki made a motion to adjourn at 6:12 p.m. Alderperson
Madden seconded; motion carried.
Minutes transcribed by Jill Blenski, Deputy Clerk.