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Melissa Pingel, Waushara County Administrator
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The 2024 Proposed Budget and 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Plan was presented to the Waushara County Board of Supervisors by Melissa Pingel, Administrator, at their regular monthly meeting held on Oct. 17 at the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma.
Pingel said that the Police Union Negotiations for a 2-year contract was nearly complete. The main drivers in the budget increases included: Inflation from costs of goods to wages including seasonal employees; New buildings; Equipment for squads and the price of ambulances have doubled; Understaffed Departments; and the Decrease in grants/revenue.
Still outstanding is the EMS Union Negotiation and insurance costs for property, workmen’s compensation, and health insurance. Pingel said she was so appreciative to every department for makes cuts in the budget to cut $1.4 million. The initial budget requests from departments resulted in $3.2 million above the levy limit.
The proposed 2024 budget total is $22,396,800 with an equalized value of 11% compared to 17% last year and the 2024 Mill rate is 5.6739. The budget total was $21,023516 and mill rate in 2023 was 5.9080. The next regular meeting of the board will include the budget hearing and an explanation will be included in a presentation to explain how the mill rate will affect the Waushara County taxpayers. Pingel said that she wants the supervisors to have an explanation for their constituents if asked about their tax bill.
The County Board approved a total of $89.5 million to be used to construct the following:
1. Emergency Medical Services and Senior Dining Center (Poy Sippi Center) completed in May of 2023.
2. Emergency Medical Services Facility (Wautoma) with a targeted completion of November 2023.
3. High Department Facility with a targeted completion of mid February 2024.
4. Government Center with a completion date of May 2024.
The County Building Master Plan continues to be reviewed moving for ward with capital building projects. Future Assessments/Needs include: Building and Grounds Storage and Workshop; Medical Examiner: Body Cooler and Workspace; Sherif: Evidence Garage and Storage; Cold storage for County equipment, vehicles, trailers, etc.; and Outlying County Buildings — EMS, Highway, Towers, Fairgrounds. Presently they are working on repurposing the present highway department buildings.
The board of supervisors have until Oct. 25 to get any changes to the 2024 Proposed Budget to Megan Kapp, County Clerk, Sarah Luchini, Finance Director, or Melissa Pingel, County Administrator. Pingel also reminded supervisors that if the budget is changed they need to indicate which department they are taking the funds from for another department.
In other business the board approved an increase in County Supervisor pay per meeting to form $50 for a committee meeting to $75 and an increase of $75 to $100 for County Board Meetings. This is the first increase for the supervisors since 2013.
Voting against the increase was Bob Wendell, Jesse Urban, and David Bosshard. Full time Waushara County Employees will be received a 2% Cost of Living wage increase as well as a step increase.
An Opioid Settlement Proceeds Request for $$2,500 for Medication Lockboxes was approved. The board also approved a resolution ordering the issuance of tax deeds on certain tax foreclosed property.
The next regular meeting of the Waushara County Board of Supervisors and the 2024 Budget Hearing will be held two weeks earlier than normal, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma.
Pingel said that the Police Union Negotiations for a 2-year contract was nearly complete. The main drivers in the budget increases included: Inflation from costs of goods to wages including seasonal employees; New buildings; Equipment for squads and the price of ambulances have doubled; Understaffed Departments; and the Decrease in grants/revenue.
Still outstanding is the EMS Union Negotiation and insurance costs for property, workmen’s compensation, and health insurance. Pingel said she was so appreciative to every department for makes cuts in the budget to cut $1.4 million. The initial budget requests from departments resulted in $3.2 million above the levy limit.
The proposed 2024 budget total is $22,396,800 with an equalized value of 11% compared to 17% last year and the 2024 Mill rate is 5.6739. The budget total was $21,023516 and mill rate in 2023 was 5.9080. The next regular meeting of the board will include the budget hearing and an explanation will be included in a presentation to explain how the mill rate will affect the Waushara County taxpayers. Pingel said that she wants the supervisors to have an explanation for their constituents if asked about their tax bill.
The County Board approved a total of $89.5 million to be used to construct the following:
1. Emergency Medical Services and Senior Dining Center (Poy Sippi Center) completed in May of 2023.
2. Emergency Medical Services Facility (Wautoma) with a targeted completion of November 2023.
3. High Department Facility with a targeted completion of mid February 2024.
4. Government Center with a completion date of May 2024.
The County Building Master Plan continues to be reviewed moving for ward with capital building projects. Future Assessments/Needs include: Building and Grounds Storage and Workshop; Medical Examiner: Body Cooler and Workspace; Sherif: Evidence Garage and Storage; Cold storage for County equipment, vehicles, trailers, etc.; and Outlying County Buildings — EMS, Highway, Towers, Fairgrounds. Presently they are working on repurposing the present highway department buildings.
The board of supervisors have until Oct. 25 to get any changes to the 2024 Proposed Budget to Megan Kapp, County Clerk, Sarah Luchini, Finance Director, or Melissa Pingel, County Administrator. Pingel also reminded supervisors that if the budget is changed they need to indicate which department they are taking the funds from for another department.
In other business the board approved an increase in County Supervisor pay per meeting to form $50 for a committee meeting to $75 and an increase of $75 to $100 for County Board Meetings. This is the first increase for the supervisors since 2013.
Voting against the increase was Bob Wendell, Jesse Urban, and David Bosshard. Full time Waushara County Employees will be received a 2% Cost of Living wage increase as well as a step increase.
An Opioid Settlement Proceeds Request for $$2,500 for Medication Lockboxes was approved. The board also approved a resolution ordering the issuance of tax deeds on certain tax foreclosed property.
The next regular meeting of the Waushara County Board of Supervisors and the 2024 Budget Hearing will be held two weeks earlier than normal, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma.