On Monday, November 18, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered and approved the 2020 General Fund Budget. The budget includes general government operating, capital, and debt service, along with incremental tax districts, capital improvements, and special revenue. The village portion of the property tax bill for a median assessed home in Pleasant Prairie will not increase.
The Village 2020 tax levy is budgeted to increase by $346,058, to $12,652,261, which is the maximum amount the State allows under state levy laws. Even with the levy increase, the Village property tax rate will stay about the same at $4.27 per thousand of assessed value. For an owner of a home assessed at the median value of $237,200, the Village portion of the property tax bill would remain the same.
Village operating expenses for 2020 will be $18.8 million, up $1.1 million, which is offset by a $0.8 million increase in operating revenue totaling $18.3 million. Reserve funds will be used to cover the remaining $500,000 for one-time expenses. The budget includes two additional firefighters, increasing part-time fire department staffing, presidential election year coverage, park maintenance, and funds to replace dead ash trees in the Village. The end of 2020 reserves are projected to be at 32 percent; 7 percent over the current reserve policy minimum of 25 percent.
Proposed capital purchases for 2020 total $6.1 million, up from $4.4 million from 2019. Major projects over $500,000 included the paving program, contribution to HWY 50 reconstruction, rescue pumper, communication equipment, and law enforcement facility planning. After paying off $1.5 million in 2019, the general government's outstanding debt is $8,865,000. During 2020 the Village will pay off an additional $1,525,000 in debt and borrow $925,000 for the rescue pumper, an ambulance, and communication equipment. The debt service fund at the end of 2020 is projected to decrease to $8.265 million.
“The Village works to provide high-quality municipal services for our residents and businesses including road improvements and high-quality public safety,” explained Village Administrator Nathan Thiel, “As a municipal government, the Village works diligently to prioritize annual projects to make sure that we are being fiscally responsible, while maintaining a stable and economically sound community.”