Rushford Village council approves 14.5% proposed levy, sets work to pare budget

The Rushford Village council voted Sept. 16 to approve a proposed 2026 levy of $655,455 — a 14.5% increase over the prior levy — and to begin detailed review of the draft budget before final adoption.

Clerk Mary Miner presented the proposed receipts and disbursements showing projected receipts of $769,978 and proposed disbursements of $764,099, leaving roughly a $5,000 cushion. Miner said line items driving the levy included $30,000 for a generator, a part-time assistant position budgeted at 25 hours per week for 52 weeks at $25 per hour, a 3% cost-of-living wage adjustment with step increases, a $4,000 tools budget, a $3,500 mower trailer, and $106,000 held in certificates of deposit for future equipment (grader, trucks, bridges, streets and mower).

Acting Mayor Mike Ebner said he and Mayor Dennis Overland had discussed leaving the proposed budget intentionally high as a “wish list” to be cut back, and urged the council to evaluate priorities. Council Member Travis Link said some smaller items could be trimmed, but cautioned against diverting funds set aside for long-term capital needs.

Treasurer Judy Graham asked that, once the levy is finalized, councilors adhere to category budgets. Council Member Robert Hart pressed for careful scrutiny of big-ticket items and questioned whether some purchases — such as a generator — are immediately necessary.

After discussion, the council approved Proposed Levy Resolution #2025-09-16 setting the levy at $655,455 (motion by Robert Hart, second by Rick Ruberg). The vote was recorded as carried by the minutes; no individual roll-call tallies were included in the record.

Next steps: council members agreed to work through budget line items in the coming weeks to lower the levy before the final levy is certified.