By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – After discussing whether to allocate $47,000 for purchasing new playground equipment at Argonne Park and where that money should come from, the Ashwaubenon village board approved the 2019 village budget and related tax levy on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Next year’s budget calls for $15,934,917 in total general fund revenues and expenditures for no change in the village’s fund balance.
However, Trustee Chris Zirbel called for adding $47,000 to next year’s budget to include new playground equipment at Argonne Park.
“That area… the Titletown area and surrounding is becoming much more visible to not just our residents, but outside people coming in on special event weekends, Packers games, stuff like that,” Zirbel said. “We’ve invested money on the pathway into the park… No matter what we would do to (Argonne Park), I think, first of all, the playground equipment, in some capacity needs to stay, and obviously be updated.”
However, others on the board did not want to add $47,000 to next year’s budget, and the motion was defeated on a voice vote.
Had the motion passed, that would have added 2 cents per $1,000 to the village tax rate, said Finance Director Greg Wenholz.
The tax rate is dropping by 50 cents from the previous year to $5.62 per $1,000.
The majority of board members present Tuesday agreed to allocate $47,000 in reserve funds from the 2018 budget for the playground equipment.
Village President Mary Kardoskee, who voted against both motions, said it’s not known at this point how the park will be used in the future with the nearby development going on, such as with the Titletown District.
“We don’t really know what’s going to happen with that park,” Kardoskee said. “I guess the reason we took it out (of the 2019 budget) is because I would rather take it out this year (and) figure out what is going to happen.”
The overall property tax levy approved for village purposes is $12,548,221, a decrease of $128,224 from the previous year.
Though the general fund levy is increasing by $253,630 to $9,621,558, an increase of 2.71 percent, the amount going to the debt service fund is dropping by $397,746 to $695,913, a decrease of 36.37 percent.
The second highest levy amount, referendum bonding, is decreasing by $2,000 to $1,545,250.
The levy for capital projects is increasing by $5,392 to $650,000 under the 2019 village budget, while the levy related to special revenue funds is increasing by $12,500 to $37,500.