Village of Jackson reviews 2026 draft budget and 10-year financial plan; board asks staff to target about 3% tax-bill impact

Village of Jackson Village Board members heard review of the 2024 audit and a detailed presentation of the 2026 draft budget and a 10-year financial-management plan during their Aug. 12 meeting.

The meeting opened with Patty, an auditor from Lucida, reporting an unmodified opinion on the village's 2024 financial statements and saying the audit procedures found "no indication of fraud." Patty reported increases and decreases across several funds: the general fund rose $82,009.73; TID 4 increased about $700,000 while other TIDs declined; the debt service fund increased $562,008.25; the capital projects fund increased $2,355,008.44 largely because of bond proceeds not spent in 2024; the Fire & EMS fund rose $191,009.29; and the park fund grew $123,126. Patty also told the board the village issued $5,695,000 in general obligation debt in 2024 and is at 36.87% of its statutory maximum debt limit.

Why it matters: the audit and the financial-management plan set the baseline for budget decisions that affect the village tax levy, staffing and capital projects. Administrator Heitke and Ehlers consultants presented the draft 2026 budget and a forecast showing longer-term pressure from operating cost growth (wages, benefits and new positions) even as the village…