Zero Percent Increase for Prairie du Sac Department Budgets

Tight budget for Prairie du Sac. (Sauk Prairie Eagle, 8/31/2011)

Excerpt: Trustee Ray Bolton managed to sum up the early prognosis for the upcoming Prairie du Sac Village Budget with one word - "Ouch."

Due mostly to cuts in various revenue sources from the state in its latest budget, the village board is looking to cut $75,000 from next year's operating budget.

"We're going to have our work cut out for us," said village president Cheryl Sherman.

Village administrator Alan Wildman said it will be the toughest budget session in recent memory, and the administrative committee will be meeting more often than usual to identify potential cuts.

Wildman told the village board during its committee of the whole meeting Aug. 23 that it's facing a loss of $39,500 in state aid and $30,000 less in highway and recycling money from the state.

Furthermore, state law prevents the village from raising taxes to pay for its general operating costs. However, Wildman said the village could raise the levy 0.08 percent to reflect its $2.7 million in new construction this year.

The village has requested that its various departments - such as the Sauk Prairie Police Department and the Prairie du Sac Public Library - keep their budget requests at a 0 percent increase.

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget.  (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800.  (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012.  (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services.  (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past.  (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase.  (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard.  (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget.  (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development.  (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget:  "Every service we rely on is vulnerable".  (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase.  (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like.  (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)