Village Announces 2022 Recommended Budget

GREENDALE, WI — The Village Manager presented the 2022 recommended Village budget at a Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 19. With the new budget, the village tax levy is expected to increase by 1.18 percent.

Financially, it has been a tough year for Greendale. With the pandemic, higher rates of inflation, increased equipment costs and an increased need for new infrastructure in mind, "the goal for the 2022 Budget is to use the minimum amount of fund balance necessary to improve our infrastructure and equipment and maintain the core services our residents expect," the budget document said.

The budget is not finalized yet. Workshop sessions have been planned to take place on Oct. 27, 27 and Nov. 3, each at 6 p.m. in Village Hall.

Here are some key takeaways from the budget that was presented at this week's meeting:

• For a home that was assessed at $228,796, the budget predicts a total cost of village services to be $1,766.31. That represents a monthly cost of $156.42 that supports all village services except water and sewer — A .26 percent increase since last year of $4.58.
• On average, Greendale homes saw a 2.18 percent decrease in assessed value. Combined with the 1.18 percent tax levy increase, every $1,000 of assessed value can expect to pay two cents more in taxes. In 2020, Greendale could expect to pay $7.70 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed value — That will increase to $7.72 per $1,000.
• The budget shifts payment for the residential recycling program to homeowners. The cost would remain the same from previous years, about $31 per year.
• American Rescue Plan Act funding greatly offset lost revenue this past year. The village received $311,197.
• Wages are expected to rise by 3.9 percent for most city workers. Firefighters and police officers were budgeted a 2 percent raise until union contracts are settled.
• Revenue will overall outpace expenditures by about $400,000 in the village's general fund.

More details on the Greendale 2022 proposed budget can be found online.