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Cross Plains trustees press staff to cut $50,000, debate water meter replacements and interest allocation in 2026 budget review
Summary
The Village of Cross Plains Board of Trustees discussed 2026 supplemental and operating budget proposals, including contract-driven recycling fees, a $4,001.50 library maintenance supplemental, a planned water-meter replacement program and whether pooled interest should be reallocated to individual funds. Trustees asked staff to return in two weeks with revised figures to meet the board's 3% target.
President Langdon opened the Nov. 10, 2025 Village of Cross Plains Board of Trustees meeting by reviewing the board's 11 budget goals and the levy/mill-rate context for 2026, saying the board would not take final action at that meeting but needed direction. Langdon emphasized the village's operating-budget target of a 3% increase and said staff's current package would need about $50,000 in reductions to meet that goal.
Why it matters: The trustees said staying within the levy limit matters because exceeding it can change the practical tax impact on residents and affect eligibility for an EMS levy exception the board has previously used. Langdon said the board's materials show a levy figure presented as roughly $3.0 million and a projected mill rate increase from about 8.97 to about 9.36 absent changes; to reach the 3% target the board would need roughly $50,000 in cuts.
Key budget items discussed
- Recycling fee: Staff said the village's switch to bin-service pickup extended the solid-waste contract through 2028 and introduces an increased recycling cost (presented as roughly an extra quarter per household per month). Trustee Michael suggested the village could consider adding recycling as a separate line item on property tax bills the way Middleton does; trustees asked staff to research administrability and the levy-limit implications.
- Library automation…
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