Waunakee board approves 2026 budget, sets tax levy and five-year equipment plan

Waunakee approved its 2026 budget and five-year equipment replacement plan on a voice vote after a required public hearing. The board also adopted the property-tax levy for the 2025 tax year.

Renee (village staff), who presented the budget, said the most recent revisions produced a net decrease to the village tax levy of about $35,000 and trimmed the earlier projected average-home increase by roughly $9 from the initial figures presented to the board. She said the village had also recalculated a utility Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) that added roughly $30,000 to the budget.

The budget includes a late staffing request to convert the Parks and Recreation assistant office manager position from 0.9 full-time equivalent to 1.0 FTE. Renee said the cost of that change for 2026 would be “just under $8,000” and would be funded from projected surplus in the Village Center fund so it would not increase the levy this year.

Board members discussed fund-balance projections and long-range affordability. Renee said the village projects unassigned fund balance of about 30% for 2025 and conservative projections that would decline to roughly 22% by 2030 under the assumptions used for the presentation. She cautioned that higher-than-expected expenditures would lower those percentages.

Members of the Community Development Authority reported recommending an extension of Tax Increment District (TID) 5 to support affordable-housing work; staff said the CDA had recommended an extension that would provide a substantial additional amount (CDA discussion noted a recommendation of at least $750,000) and that final approval would return to the board after additional research and background work, likely in January. The exact timing and final amount to be realized were not finalized during the meeting.

Trustee Nyla Frey raised a separate but related community-need concern, asking the board to consider ways to support the Waunakee food pantry after reporting a sharp rise in clients served. Staff said the pantry’s rent is $1,000 per month and suggested the board could place lease modification or short-term support on a future agenda to explore options.

Board member (speaker 15) moved to approve the resolution adopting the 2026 Village of Waunakee budget and five-year equipment replacement plan; the motion carried by voice vote. The board then approved the resolution levying property taxes for the 2025 tax year. The meeting record shows the budget and levy votes carried with no recorded opposing votes.