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As mentioned in this space yesterday, the City of Appleton’s 2007 budget has been released to the public. Copies can be reviewed at the Appleton Public Library or City Hall, 6th floor, Finance Department. An executive summary will be posted on the web no later than October 13. Then….

• Common Council review of budget, department by department, Saturday, October 28. Typically the day begins at 8:00 and ends around 5:00.
• Public hearing, Wednesday evening, November 1
• Budget adoption Wednesday evening, November 8. Public welcome to speak at start of meeting.

The budget document is 2 inches thick – where do you start? Here’s the first run-through of the basics residents need to know:

• How much is the total tax levy increasing?
• $30,359,156 in 2006, $31,102,414 for 2007, a 2.45% increase. Good. Within the controls of Appleton’s Tax Levy Ordinance (Sec. 18-27(c), (p. 1175, City Ordinances) and state levy limits.
• DO NOT look at the tax RATE. Meaningless.
• Utility rates – how are they changing?
• No mention of the specific water rate increases – only that “New rates are expected to be implemented late in 2006.” Too astonishing to put on paper, perhaps! Increases of 25% or more (depending on PSC and discussions with Grand Chute) expected in late 2006.
• No mention of wastewater rate changes.
• Stormwater (p. 573 of 2007 Budget): “The current annual rate of $108.88 became effective March 1, 2006. The next increase…would probably take place in late 2009…approximately $23.20 per ERU.” – So, rates not changing for now; expect a 20 – 25% increase in 2009. Stormwater spending, in just a few years, has become huge. Something to keep a close eye on.

• Debt – how is it changing and where is it as a percentage of the legal limit?
• The city is in an excellent debt position. Much of the debt is supported by not just tax payments, but ever-increasing utility bills.
• Fees – with levies being regulated, governments are sorely tempted to raise all sorts of fees.
• The budget message mentions only one fee increase of $5 added to non-resident Park & Rec. fees.
• Personnel changes – Full-time equivalents (FTE’s) totaled 625 in 1996, 684 in 2003, then cutbacks brought FTE’s to 652 in 2006.
• That line is held, with 2007 FTE’s proposed at 652.3.
• How much money is in the budget to build a police station? (See what FoxPolitics Says.)
• $11.8M over 4 years (2006-1009). Wisely ignored council request to increase by $1M for more parking. More on that later.

A responsible budget. Good controls in place. Good work by Finance Director Lisa Maertz and her staff. To quote the budget message “The financial condition of our city remains excellent in large part due to the work of this outstanding [finance department] staff” as well as thanks to “all of our department heads…for working hard to keep the best interests of the City in mind, sometimes in spite of their own department’s wants and desires.”

Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net

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