Preliminary Fredonia village budget calls for 1.73% levy hike

The Fredonia Village Board last week accepted a preliminary 2021 budget recommendation from its Finance Committee that would increase the local tax levy by 1.73%.

A public hearing on the budget is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19. 

Under the preliminary budget, the property tax levy will fund general spending of $1.11 million, capital spending of $141,042 and debt service of $258,033.

Village Clerk Sandi Tretow said the assessed tax rate to appear on December tax bills has not yet been calculated.

The budget forecasts a 0.4% decrease in total revenue and will need to take $91,535 from the general fund surplus to balance the budget.

Under the recommended budget:

• The village’s debt service for the Fredonia Avenue reconstruction and the new fire station would remain at $258,084.

The proposed budget calls for making an extra principal payment in 2021 to the Fredonia Avenue loan so it could be retired in 2024.

• The fire department budget would increase expenses by 14.28% due primarily to increased spending on non-capital small equipment items and increased truck maintenance.

Ambulance expenses would increase by  18.31%, but that is expected to be covered by fees.

• The water utility shows a decrease of 4.5% in operating expenses. No water rate increase is expected in 2021.

• Residents will see a 12% increase in sewer rates to pay for improving sewer laterals on North Wilson Street. Operating expenses will decrease 5.8%. 

Capital purchase requests totaled $418,091, but only $141,042 will be included in the levy.

Projects not funded in the levy include $195,000 for reconstruction of North Wilson Street, which will be paid for through a combination of contingency funds and loans.