The Waushara County Board had a meeting on Tuesday and voted down a resolution to borrow up to $27m for the new Waushara County Highway Shop. To borrow money or the intent to borrow money takes a 75% vote of the board and the vote was 72%. At the end of the meeting, after considerable discussion, the Building and Grounds Committee voted to meet on Thursday at 12:30 for a meeting to discuss options.
At the Building and Grounds Committee it was agreed at the special Waushara County Board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd the Building and Grounds would present a new resolution and a vote on the Waushara County Highway Shop. This followed a lengthy discussion on the cost of repairing the highway shop was not in the best interest of the county vs. building new, the committee thought it was best to make sure that the county residents realized with a 17 percent equalized evaluation growth the taxpayers may not see an increase in their taxes at all even with borrowing $90m. It should be noted that the additional funds are due to construction costs increase and the building and grounds committee does not believe the building costs will decrease.
Jeff Belongia, Huntington, presented the Waushara County Mill Rate History to the County Board on Aug. 16th and the tax per thousand of equalized evaluation in 2020 was $6.840505; 2021 $6.498954, and in 2022 $6.889254, a $0.390300 Increase. “While we will have to wait to complete the total 2023 county budget in order to determine the exact levy amount and tax rate it would be less than the 2022 rate of $6.89. Including debt service,” Belongia said. It should be noted that the Government Center, and Poy Sippi EMS/Dining Center plans are not affected by this vote.
The EOC is considered a priority and will be in the design phase, the EMS location along with the Highway Department building is affected if this additional borrowing potential is not approved.
The Waushara County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, Aug, 23rd at 6 p.m. in the County Board Room of the Waushara County Courthouse, Wautoma to hear more from Jeff Belongia, Huntington, on the borrowing and the cost to taxpayers, the equalized evaluation, vote on the new resolution and the building project.
Due to the fact that the meeting was held on Aug. 16, the Building and Grounds on Aug. 18th and the County Board again on Aug. 23, all with changes, the Argus will print of the meeting results in the Waushara Argus on Sept. 1. If we printed it earlier the facts would not be accurate and would be outdated and not accurate.
