Rushford Village council weighs cuts to lower proposed levy, targets generator and investments

Mayor Dennis Overland and the Rushford Village City Council debated changes to the proposed 2026 budget aimed at lowering the property tax levy.

The council reviewed options presented by Clerk Mary Miner and discussed removing a proposed $30,000 generator purchase and reducing planned investments from $106,000 to $86,000. Miner said removing the generator and trimming $20,000 in investments would reduce the levy to about $605,455, which Overland described as "more palatable for residents." Miner noted that reaching a 7% levy would require larger cuts and outlined the arithmetic used to estimate levy percentages.

Council member Travis Link and others proposed alternatives, including keeping the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) contract in place or budgeting a smaller contingency for it. Link suggested budgeting $10,000 as a compromise rather than keeping the full $17,000 contract amount. Council members also discussed whether certain equipment purchases, such as a trailer, should be retained to provide a budget cushion if purchases do not occur.

Council member Robert Hart questioned staff attendance at every meeting as a potential area to reduce costs. Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit responded that his job description requires attendance at meetings. Hart suggested some issues could be handled off-line, but Mayor Overland said time-sensitive matters sometimes require in-person discussion.

Miner said she will prepare a revised budget for the next meeting with the generator removed and investments reduced by $20,000, targeting a levy of approximately $605,455. The council is scheduled to hold a Truth in Taxation meeting on Dec. 2 and to set the final budget on Dec. 16.

The council did not adopt final budget changes at the Nov. 4 meeting; the item will return for further consideration.