Whitefish Bay board adopts 2025 budget, raises storm‑water rate and ratifies police contract

The Whitefish Bay Village Board on Nov. 18 adopted the village’s 2025 budget, extended the 2024 tax levy and voted to amend several utility and revenue items to address infrastructure and insurance costs.

Staff presented the final budget package and said the proposed property‑tax levy would increase 3.58 percent, which staff estimated would equal about $116 for the average homeowner. The board also approved adjusting the storm‑water utility rate to $21.21 per equivalent residential unit to fund necessary storm‑sewer repairs, including a specific collapse repair cited by staff.

Budget discussion also flagged the loss of ARPA funding in 2025 and higher debt‑service and personnel costs. Staff noted the village secured an 18 percent health‑insurance renewal — a figure staff framed as manageable but prompting further employee engagement and future planning. Trustees said they would seek better fund‑level reporting for items such as landfill remediation and vehicle‑replacement reserves in next year’s budget cycle.

The board adopted the formal resolutions on the general fund, water/sewer/storm utilities, amended storm‑water rates and assessment extensions as listed in the agenda packet. Later in the meeting, after a closed‑session negotiation under Wis. Stat. 19.85 for police‑union contract talks and employee health insurance, trustees returned to open session and ratified the 2025–26 police union contract; the motion carried.

Board members and staff emphasized the capital and maintenance priorities that informed the budget, including road and drainage projects, and said they will continue public outreach about specific service‑fee changes.