General Government Departments in the Village include: Police, Municipal Court, Fire & Rescue, Public Safety Communications, Public Works, Parks, Engineering, Building Inspection, Assessing, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Administration and Community Development. These departments receive income from property taxes, loans, grants, impact and other fees, the resale of capital equipment and donations. These funds are then used to cover day-to-day operating expenses, large capital purchases or projects, and to pay down General Government debt.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2015
Pleasant Prairie’s 2015 General Government Budget will result in a small increase in the Village portion of your property tax bill (20% of your total bill). For a home in the Village valued at $191,600 (median assessed value in the Village), this would translate into an $26 increase in the Village portion of the property tax bill, with the total Village tax of $847 for the year. Approximately 66% of the budget dollars will be directed toward public safety and public works operations. The majority of the remaining percentage will be used to pay down debt and support General Government operations (see page two of your December Village Newsletter).
In 2015, the Village will continue to reinforce core public safety services while also working to keep our community nimble enough respond to and bounce back quickly from future uncertainties as they arise. With a refined focus on becoming resilient in the face of future challenges (be they related to weather, the economy or other unforeseen circumstances), the Village will focus on: protecting infrastructure; maintaining high quality staff; ensuring that new development will add value to the Village; and ensuring that any remaining developable land in the Village achieves its highest and best use in order to help the Village maintain its value in the long term.
DEBT REDUCTION AND BORROWING
Over the past many years, the Village has followed a conservative borrowing schedule and used debt only for large capital projects and infrastructure that would retain value for our community over an extended period of time. While continuing to pay down General Government debt, the Village borrowed funds during 2014 to complete construction of a larger Fire Station #1 (update included in the December issue of the Village Newsletter). During 2015, the Village will continue to use the funds that were borrowed in 2014 to complete the project. No new borrowing has been planned in the 2015 General Government Budget. The table available by clicking "View PDF" below shows projects to be completed in our community during 2015 by funding source.
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