Municipal officials brace for tightest budgets in decades

Cuts are expected; Wisconsin’s levy limits are contributor By AMY RINARD arinard@journalsentinel.com From diesel fuel and road salt to overtime pay and health insurance premiums, rapidly escalating costs of operating local governments are about to collide with state-imposed levy limits, causing municipal officials to brace for their tightest budget squeeze in decades. $20 per car Local vehicle registration fee the Milwaukee Common Council is considering $9 per $1000 of assessed property value Approved property tax rate in Princeton, in Green Lake County, up from about $5 per $1,000 94 Number of residential building permits issued in 2007 in Oconomowoc. This year could be less than half, according to Diane Gard, city administrator 166 Oconomowoc residential building permits issued in 2005 Although early in their work on 2009... [read full story]