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Residents urge clarity on 2026 budget; officials suggest a short survey on costly projects
Summary
At a Village of Waukesha public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget, residents praised the process but warned that expenses appear to be rising faster than levy receipts and asked whether funds exist for the DPW building and a fire station; officials suggested a short survey to gauge voter support for large expenditures.
The Village of Waukesha opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 village budget and invited residents to comment on the line items presented to the board. An unidentified resident praised the budget process but warned that costs were outpacing revenue and urged the board to test voter appetite before pursuing large, referendum-triggering projects.
The comment period focused on fiscal sustainability and capital projects. An unidentified resident said, "expenses are going up faster than our receipts from the levy," and asked how long the village could sustain that trend. The resident raised the prospect that work on the firehouse could exceed the threshold that requires a referendum and suggested the board consider an advisory referendum or other polling to gauge support before committing to major spending.
Dan Buchholz, who identified himself and gave his street address during public comment, asked, "Is there any money in the budget for the DPW Building and the and the fire station for next year?" seeking clarity about whether capital funding for the Department of Public Works building or a new fire station is included in the 2026 draft.
Responding to the public comments, the moderator said staff would address the budget and proposed a short survey approach: "There's something called SurveyMonkey," suggesting the village could mail or email a few questions to get feedback. The moderator added that even a smaller, targeted survey of village residents could provide a better idea of public sentiment, noting "we're kind of in dire straits" and that voters often resist tax increases without prior notice or outreach.
No formal vote or decision on capital projects was recorded at the hearing. The public hearing provided the board with direct resident concerns about long-term revenue pressures and whether to proceed with projects that could trigger a referendum; officials said they would take the input and follow up as part of the regular budget process.
