Ashwaubenon board adopts 2026 budget, authorizes up to $3.195 million in notes and approves utility rate increases

The Village Board of Ashwaubenon adopted its 2026 budget on Nov. 25, approving a balanced general-fund plan that lists $21,626,238 in revenues and expenditures and a mill rate of 5.03, officials said. The board also authorized a parameters resolution to issue up to $3,195,000 in general obligation promissory notes to finance public works roof work, marina walkway repairs, vehicle purchases and stormwater projects, and approved increases to water, sanitary sewer and stormwater rates.

At a public hearing preceding the vote, staff said the joint village/finance personnel committee met Nov. 11 and recommended approval of the budget. Finance staff reported the levy is up by just over $1,000,000 while the mill rate is up $0.10; staff also noted that when combined with other jurisdictions the overall tax rate for Ashwaubenon residents is projected to change by only a few cents in total. No members of the public offered testimony during the hearing.

On financing, staff presented a parameters resolution that would allow the village to sell up to $3,195,000 in 10-year general obligation promissory notes, with the first call date of June 1, 2032. Staff provided a planning interest estimate of about 3.35% (observing market rates near ~3.10%) and set a maximum parameter interest rate of 4.25%. The planned uses named in the presentation included a public works garage roof replacement, marina repairs, a garbage truck and two dump trucks, and stormwater work including Willard Pond construction and culvert replacement. Staff described an approximate split of debt-service responsibility: about $1.7 million tied to stormwater revenues and roughly $2.19 million tied to general-fund-supported debt service in the schedules shown to the board.

The board also adopted resolutions to raise utility rates. Staff described two alternatives: Alternative 1 (3% water, 9% sewer, 10% stormwater), which the materials estimated would raise an average residential quarterly bill from about $255 to $271; and a staff-recommended alternative (3% water, 20% sewer, 10% stormwater) that would raise the average quarterly bill to roughly $285 (an increase of about $30 per quarter). Staff explained that Green Bay Water (purchased water) is regulated by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and that sanitary-sewer costs largely reflect pass-through charges from Green Bay Metropolitan (referred to in the packet/transcript as Green Bay Met or “NewWater”), which staff said forecast a 7% operations increase and roughly a 30% capital increase.

Board members discussed impacts on residents, with one member noting the increase translates to about $120 a year and observing much of the change is driven by pass-through costs. All actions were approved by voice vote in the meeting; the transcript records general “ayes” rather than roll-call tallies for those votes.

What happens next: staff said the promissory notes issuance would be finalized after marketing the sale, with an anticipated pricing/award on Dec. 9 and closing scheduled for Dec. 30. Utility rate changes that affect purchased water will require approval from the Public Service Commission as applicable; sanitary and stormwater adjustments are implemented by the village as adopted.