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Pewaukee council reviews proposed 2026 budget with 4.1% tax-rate increase and major borrowing plans
Summary
The Pewaukee Common Council heard a staff presentation on the proposed 2026 budget that increases the tax rate by 4.1%, adds two staff positions, and anticipates roughly $12 million in roadway borrowing; councilors pressed staff on long-term debt and utility impacts.
The Pewaukee Common Council reviewed the proposed 2026 budget at a hearing that staff said would include a tax-rate increase of 4.1% and planned borrowing for major capital work.
At the start of the budget presentation, staff reported the proposed levy is “a little under $12,700,000” and that “the tax rate is increasing by 4.1%,” a change staff said equals roughly $33.75 on a $250,000 assessed value. Staff also said the city’s fund balance is about 27.1% of revenues, above the city’s stated policy maximum of 25%.
The budget includes two new positions: a GIS analyst in engineering and an administrative staff position in the clerk’s office proposed to be shared with the fire department. Council members asked that the departments bringing the staffing requests present their justifications during the meeting.
Councilors pressed staff on planned borrowing and long-term fiscal outlook. Staff said the city anticipates about $12 million in roadway borrowing to cover projects scheduled across 2025 and 2026, plus additional stormwater and pedestrian projects. A $1 million trail connection from Ballmer Park to the sports complex was singled out as a new capital line. Council members noted recent large projects, including a DPW building, have driven up borrowing in recent years and asked for outside expert analysis of borrowing capacity and debt-service limits.
Discussion also touched on utility finances: staff said water shows operating positive results before depreciation but negative after depreciation under PSC accounting rules; sewer is operating at a loss and a formal rate study will follow audit completion. Councilors requested follow-up materials and projections before final approval.
The council set the final budget hearing for Nov. 3 at 06:00 and left unresolved several technical accounting and transfer questions that staff said would be cleaned up before the final vote.
