West Bend officials outline 2026 budget with 7.1% tax-levy increase, average city tax rate up to $6.46

City Administrator Jesse presented the City of West Bend’s proposed 2026 general-fund budget on Oct. 6, 2025, asking the Common Council to review a $28,345,123 tax levy — a 7.1% increase over 2025.

Jesse said the proposal is balanced “by law” with no use of fund balance programmed and that the general fund accounts for roughly 70% of the levy’s allocation. “The recommended overall tax levy for the 2026 budget comes in at $28,345,123. This is a 7.1% increase,” Jesse said.

The budget presentation stressed that the largest single driver of increased debt-service costs is the city’s recent commitment to build a new fire station and training facility. Jesse said that without that commitment, debt-service allocation would have been about 4% rather than the higher level included now.

The administration presented a proposed city tax rate of $6.46 per $1,000 of assessed value. Using an illustrative average home valuation “just over $300,000,” Jesse calculated an estimated city tax bill of about $1,938.28 for an average single-family home; he emphasized that the figure does not include school, county or technical-college levies and is subject to change once manufacturing property values and other jurisdiction levies are finalized.

Other notable elements in the proposal include: modest general-fund increases roughly aligned with the consumer price index (Jesse cited a 2.7% CPI), a 28% fund balance (with a 17% minimum recommended), movement of several ongoing maintenance items into the general fund (examples cited: traffic-signal maintenance, street-tree planting, wireless-network upgrades), and some personnel adjustments (additional FTEs in public works and parks, and reclassification of an airport superintendent from part time to full time).

Jesse said some IT costs were consolidated under the IT budget for clarity. He also noted the city postponed a planned citywide revaluation for now but that state equalized values must be monitored to remain compliant with state requirements.

Council members and the mayor thanked department heads and finance staff for the work. Council leadership reminded members that the capital-improvement plan and borrowing will be presented Oct. 20 and that the final budget vote is scheduled for the first meeting in November. Jesse said several intergovernmental revenue figures and manufacturing property values from the state were still pending and that those outstanding items could affect final calculations.

Mayor Joe Longert and Alderman Sternig both encouraged council members to direct follow-up questions to Jesse, department heads, or the mayor’s office before the final vote.

The council did not vote on the budget itself at the Oct. 6 meeting; the presentation was for review and scheduling of follow-up sessions and hearings.