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Wilmont council sets 32% preliminary levy increase, approves budget direction
Summary
The Wilmont City Council on Sept. 11 approved a 32% preliminary levy increase for the 2025 budget, set at $213,894, and adopted a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for staff while agreeing the preliminary levy may be lowered but not increased later.
The City of Wilmont Council approved a preliminary property tax levy of $213,894 for 2025 — a 32% increase over last year — during its Sept. 11 meeting, a move council members said is intended to give them flexibility as they finalize the budget.
Amber Bertrand, the city clerk who led the budget review, presented the line-by-line preliminary 2025 budget and explained that the preliminary levy can be reduced before final adoption but cannot be raised later in the budget cycle. Councilmember Isaac Joens moved to set the preliminary levy at $213,894; Alicia Entinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The council also approved a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, including Clerk Amber Bertrand and maintenance staff led by Steve Joens. Councilmembers discussed that the levy increase “will still leave us short on the budget,” according to the minutes, but accepted the preliminary figure to allow further discussion and adjustments before final adoption.
Votes at a glance • Preliminary levy (2025) — Motion by Isaac Joens, seconded by Alicia Entinger; outcome: approved unanimously; amount set at $213,894 (32% increase). (Provenance: SEG 017) • Resolution 2024-06 (raise city credit card limit from $2,000 to $5,000) — Motion by Alicia Entinger, seconded by Steve Brake; outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: SEG 016) • Approval of financial report and authorization to pay remaining and post-meeting operating bills (including fire department bills) — Motion by Isaac Joens, seconded by Steve Brake; outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: SEG 010) • Routine approvals (agenda, minutes, time sheets, maintenance and fire reports, clerk’s report) — All motions carried unanimously. (Provenance: SEG 007–015)
Why it matters The preliminary levy establishes the ceiling for property tax revenue the city can seek for 2025; while the council can lower the levy before final adoption, the decision limits the city’s ability to increase taxes later in the budget process. The actions also include personnel cost adjustments and routine authorizations for city operations that will affect the coming year’s expenditures.
What’s next Councilmembers set the next regular meeting for Oct. 9, 2024 to continue budget work and finalize any adjustments before formally adopting the 2025 levy and budget.
