Wheeler approves budget of $477,000 for 2025
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
WHEELER — The Wheeler Village Board has adopted a revenue and expense budget for 2025 of $476,770.
The village board approved the 2025 budget and a property tax levy of $58,664 December 4.
The property tax levy for the 2025 budget represents a $2 increase over the property tax levy for the 2024 budget.
Wheeler is expecting to receive $156,575 in state-shared revenue, which is the same amount of state-shared revenue received for 2024.
State-shared revenue in 2023 amounted to $121,170.
The state-shared revenue for 2024 and 2025 represents an increase of $35,405 over the state-shared revenue received in 2023.
Revenue for 2025 also includes $2,000 for liquor and malt beverage licenses; $400 for bartender operator’s licenses; $1,200 for a Cable TV franchise fee; $250 for dog licenses; and $1,400 for other permits.
The revenue budget for 2025 represents an increase of $10,310 over the revenue collected in 2024.
Revenue for 2025 represents an increase of $145,904 over the 2023 revenue.
General government expenses are listed as $92,189 for 2025, the same amount as 2024.
Public safety expenses are listed as $59,207 for 2025, the same amount as 2024.
Public works expenses are listed $317,934 for 2025, representing an increase of $10,480 compared to 2024.
Culture, recreation and education is listed at $3,280 for 2025, the same amount as 2024.
Debt service is listed at $3,404 for 2025, the same amount as 2024.
Total expenses for 2025 are $476,770.
Water and sewer
The village board packet also contained information about the water and sewer projects.
The total cost of the water project to install a new well is listed at $2.532 million, and the total cost of the sewer project to install a new lift station is $2.533 million.
The yearly loan payment for the water project is listed as $25,279, and the yearly loan payment for the sewer project is $28,907.
The Village of Wheeler borrowed $648,000 for the water project and borrowed $741,000 for the sewer project.
The United States Department of Agriculture loans carry an interest rate of 2.375 percent over 40 years.
The Village of Wheeler was awarded an $884,000 grant from the USDA for the water project,, and was awarded a $1.265 million USDA grant for the sewer project.
The village also was awarded a $1 million Community Development Block Grant for the water project, and $500,000 in CDBG funds for the sewer project.
Total grants amounted to $1.884 million for the water project and $1.765 million for the sewer project.
Based on 4,518,864 million gallons used between December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024, the estimate of savings to the village because of the grants amounts to 42 cents per gallon for the water utility and 39 cents per gallon for the sewer utility.
Based on 4,518,864 million gallons, the increase in cost for water is expected to be .006 cents per gallon, and the increase for the sewer utility is expected to be .007 cents per gallon.
