By LeAnn R. Ralph
ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound Village Board is considering a balanced general fund budget of $707,860 for 2019.
Village board members received the 2019 budget at the November 19 meeting for their review prior to the public hearing on the budget scheduled for December 5.
The proposed 2019 budget of $707,860 is $42,317 more than the 2018 budget of $665,543, representing a 6.36 percent increase.
The local property tax levy for the proposed budget of $301,203 is $7,923 more than the levy of $293,280 in the 2018 budget, representing an increase of 2.7 percent.
State-shared revenue is expected to decrease from $236,931 in 2018 to $224,118 in 2019, representing a difference of $12,813 or a decrease of 3.92 percent.
Local transportation aid also is expected to decrease by $2,768, going from $36,494 in 2018 to $33,726 in 2019, representing a decrease of 7.58 percent.
Other increases in revenue in the 2019 budget include $500 more bartender operators’ licenses; about $1,000 more for liquor and beer licenses; $300 more for dog licenses; approximately $7,000 more in interest; and about $1,000 more for miscellaneous receipts.
Some of the increases in expenses include $1,500 more for legal counsel; about $5,000 more for village property wages; about $1,000 more for property insurance; approximately $500 more for life insurance; about $2,000 more for health insurance; approximately $19,000 more for public safety; and $80,000 more for Garland Avenue.
Some of the decreases in expenses include $1,000 less for general administration; approximately $1,000 less for elections; about $1,800 less for economic development and ordinances; approximately $2,000 less for fire protection; $1,000 less for street lighting; and about $13,000 less for village parks.
Other business
In other business, the Elk Mound Village Board:
• Learned that the Elk Mound Police Department responded to 61 incidents in October.
• Learned that the fire board has approved giving the fire chief a $50 per month raise.
• Learned that a fire truck involved in an accident had sustained about $5,200 in damage .
• Learned that Santa Claus will be at the Elk Mound library from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. December 6.
• Approved an application for a beer and wine license for Magnus Properties/The Junction for Jason Troiber.
