The Village staff presented the proposed 2024 General Government Budget to the Village Board during the October 23 Village Board meeting. This budget covers revenues and expenses for various areas, including operations, capital projects, and debt service. The presentation also discussed how the 2024 budget would affect the Village tax levy.
The proposed budget suggests an increase in the tax levy, going from $17,912,503 in 2023 to $21,048,868 in 2024. The increase of $3,136,365 is related to the growth of the Village and adjustments for the construction of a new fire station at 10165 Terwall Terrace and a new police station at 10111 39th Avenue. These facilities are under construction and will support the additional Fire & Rescue and Police staff from the public safety referendum that a majority of Pleasant Prairie voters approved in April 2022, enabling Pleasant Prairie to hire the necessary staff to maintain quality public safety services.
The Village estimates a tax rate of $4.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A home with a median value of $322,500 will result in an estimated $1,382 for the Village portion of the property tax bill, approximately $186 more than the previous year’s Village property tax payment.
The funds allocated in this budget will be used for various Village services, including Community Development, Fire & Rescue, Police, road improvements, and snow removal. The 2024 budget plan includes funds to replace the Fire Station #2 roof, cover inflationary cost increases across most departments, and hire a new Community Development Director to work with the retiring director through mid-2024.
Capital purchases in the proposed budget encompass $2.9 million for road improvements, $300,000 to replace the playground equipment at Prairie Springs Park's south side, $574,000 for constructing bathrooms on the park's west side, and $477,135 for new or replacement vehicles for the Fire & Rescue and Police departments. Additional investments are aimed at enhancing security and storage, implementing a traffic monetization system, upgrading Park Department equipment, and installing a crosswalk signal on Terwall Terrace.
A public hearing is scheduled to adopt the 2024 General Government Budget and property tax levy, covering operations, capital projects, and debt service. This hearing will occur on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., in the Village Hall Auditorium at 9915 39th Avenue.