MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – The City of Marshfield Common Council voted Wednesday to approve the 2023 budget. The final vote was 5-5, with Mayor Lois TeStrake breaking the tie with a “Aye” vote.
Alderpersons Voting “Nay” were Feirer, Poeschel, Witzel, Spiros, and O’Reilly. Voting “Aye” were Tompkins, Varsho, Wagner, Fischer, and Hendler.
The budget includes a maximum-permitted tax increase of 1.04% (from 10.51 to 10.5818037) and a new Street Light Tax, as well as approximately $800,000 (about 3.54%) in cuts from the General Fund to balance the budget. (For background on the budget, click here.) During the meeting, $40,000 was approved to be added back into Public Safety, with funds coming from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The street light tax involves an additional fee (approximately $2) on every utility bill per month for those who own property within city limits.
Reductions/cuts include:
- Reduce $125,000 in Law enforcement budget
- Reduce $50,000 in Fire Prevention budget
- Reduce $135,204 in employee HSA contributions
- Eliminate Associate Planner position (currently vacant)
- Eliminate Wild Wednesdays program
- Eliminate education and training for HR Director
- Delaying replacement of HR administrator support for 2 months
- Eliminate contribution to Civic Band
- Eliminate contribution to North Wood County Historic Society
- Reduce exterior window washing at City Hall
- Reduce mowing parks to 1x/week
- Eliminate purchase of salt reserves for roads
- Eliminate curbside brush/branch collection and curbside yard waste.
- Eliminate Part-Time library position
- Reduce Vandehey Waters hours
- Reduce zoo hours
- (see full list here)
The adopted budget comes as Marshfield residents are also potentially facing a school referendum and public safety referendum.
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Author: News Desk
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