wauwatosanow.com
      
Rummage MapseHarmony
weather

43°

Partly Cloudy | 5MPH

NEWSROOM * CIRCULATION * ADVERTISING

Monday

March 2010

15

Job cuts loom at City Hall

Early budget calls for trimming 12 positions

The city may need to eliminate as many as 12 positions next year to bridge an anticipated $1.2 million budget gap brought on by weak economic conditions. City Administrator James Archambo said the numbers are still up in the air, but the city will cut as many jobs "as necessary to make the budget balanced."

Reduced state aid and a drop in recycling revenue - both caused by ongoing economic turbulence - are expected to hurt the city's bottom line. Further, staffing cost increases and debt service for the city's new fire station will contribute to an estimated $2 million in budget increases.

While drops in health insurance costs and ambulance fees will add $880,000 in budget decreases, that still leaves the budget $1.2 million short.

Archambo said the difference mostly will be made up through staff cuts via attrition and, if needed, layoffs, but all areas of the budget will be reviewed for potential savings. He also hinted that city fees could rise to bring in extra revenue.

"We'll be looking at the entire budget, of course, and we're always looking for means of being more efficient," he said. "We'll be looking at other possible cuts as we get more into the budget."

Archambo disclaimed the "very early" snapshot of the $53 million budget as subject to change, but for now the property tax levy is set to increase by 3.3 percent to $36.7 million from this year's $35.53 million.

Residents would see a property tax rate increase of 3.29 percent under the budget, raising last year's rate of $6.69 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $6.91 per $1,000.

However, several Common Council members said they hoped to see a smaller increase in the tax rate than the one presented, and some asked for no increase.

Alderwoman Jacqueline Jay said she hopes to see a decrease in taxes. Jay cast the lone vote opposing last year's budget because she disagreed with the proposed tax increases.

The budgeting process will continue throughout the year, with the executive budget moving to the Common Council's budget committee in September and the full council in November.

Archambo said this year's budget will prove difficult, but the city's sound fiscal footing will help. The city's firm property tax base and AAA bond rating give it a leg up, he said.

"Financially, we're in very solid shape," he said. "We're starting from a much more solid, more better place than most municipalities."

By the Numbers

$1.2 million

estimated budget shortfall

12

positions up for elimination

3.3

percent anticipated increase to tax levy as of June 30

3.29

percent increase to resident tax rate

$6.91

per $1,000 of assessed property value tax rate under proposed budget

 

WauwatosaNOW.com

→ Do you have suggestions for city budget cuts? Share them in an interactive forum.


Suburban News Roundup

E-mail Newsletter

Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.


Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!

Login or Register to manage all your newsletter preferences.
Tools
TEXT SIZE
Marquette University

Marquette salutes
local honor students

Marquette University and WauwatosaNOW.com are proud to salute the outstanding students who have made the honor rolls at our local schools. Click on a student's name for a printable honor roll certificate. Go to honor rolls page.

The Road to Madison

Follow the state high school basketball tournament in our special section, with coverage from the Journal Sentinel, NOW Newspapers, Lake Country Publications and TODAY's TMJ4.

 

Who do you think are the best high school basketball players in the suburbs? Vote now to help us pick our All-Suburban Basketball Teams and you could win a pair of lower-level tickets to a Bucks game.

Vote for boys team | Vote for girls team

Tosa Prep Sportlight

 The sports season is in full swing at Wauwatosa East and West high schools and, if you're a prep sports fan, we'll have you covered in basketball and more!

Photo gallery: Images from the 2009-10 prep season

Stories: NOW staff's Wauwatosa prep coverage
Stories: JS Online's metro area prep coverage

Tosa Town Square

Tosa Town Square

Want to weigh in on hot issues around Tosa? Or are you just looking for a good babysitter? Visit the Town Square now and talk about issues - big and small - that you care about.

Enter Town Square | Guidelines/FAQs
Spotlight on Wauwatosa
Sky's the Limit Sky's the Limit
NOW sports writer Tom "Sky" Skibosh gives his take on the prep sports scene:
 
Community Roll Call Community Roll Call
You'll find crime prevention tips and more in the Wauwatosa Police Department's blog:
 
Check It Out Check It Out
The Wauwatosa Public Library keeps you up to date on library happenings:
 
Every School Every Week Every School Every Week
Learn what's going on in Wauwatosa's public and private schools.
 
Gas Watch Gas Watch
Find out where the cheapest gas is being sold in Tosa.
 
Family Watchdog Family Watchdog
Use the interactive map to see where sex offenders live and work in Tosa.
 
Presidential campaign contributions Presidential campaign contributions
Find out how much your neighbors are giving to the candidates.

Data Warehouse: More searchable databases
Spotlight on Milwaukee County

Wisconsin Humane Society Adoptable Animals
The Wisconsin Humane Society profiles animals needing homes in its blog:

 

Your Parks Your Parks
Find out what's going on in your Milwaukee County parks:

advertisement

Looking for a used car, a new job or a place to live? Search our interactive online classified ads.

Community Ads: Jobs | Cars | Homes
Rentals | Personals | More

JSOnline Ads: Jobs | Cars | Homes
Rentals | Personals | More