Kewaunee council adopts fiscal 2025 budget and $1.82 million tax levy

The Kewaunee Common Council voted Dec. 2 to adopt the City of Kewaunee fiscal year 2025 budget and a property tax levy totaling $1,818,350.

Administrator (S4) told the council the operating budget earlier showed an approximate gap of $526,312 that finance trimmed by moving major public-works items into the capital improvement program and reallocating costs. "The budget at that point was about $526,312 in the red," the administrator said, and the advertised levy package includes a debt-service portion of $451,732 and a general-fund portion of $1,366,618. He said the levy equates to "roughly $28 over this year for every $100,000 of value."

The budget includes personnel cost adjustments: a 3% cost-of-living increase for most employees, police patrol and deputy chief increases set at 3.76% under the collective-bargaining agreement, and a $1 hourly increase for one administrative assistant. The administrator also reported an 11% increase in health-insurance costs that staff accounted for in the proposed numbers. He said the city issued a $1,000,000 promissory note in September to help pay capital expenses and listed proposed projects including Dodge Street and Main Street reconstruction, with other work tied to grant programs such as LRIP and clean-water funds.

Council members pressed staff on several funding details before the vote, including marina, water and sewer budgeting. The administrator said marina wage spending was about $61,800 through the end of October and that the marina’s proposed 2025 budget lists $59,100 after reallocations; several positions’ cost allocations were changed so that some wages now bill to utilities rather than the general fund. He also told the council the city expects about $570,000 in state-shared revenue that typically arrives late in the year and will close much of the revenue gap.

The council held a public hearing on the proposed budget and levy and heard no public comment. Following a motion and second, the council took a roll-call vote; the recorded votes were all "Aye," and the chair declared the motion carried, adopting Resolution No. 2024-2049 (adopting the City of Kewaunee FY2025 budget and tax levy).

Votes at a glance Resolution No. 2024-2049 — Adopting City of Kewaunee fiscal year 2025 budget and tax levy: motion made and seconded; roll call recorded multiple "Aye" votes; outcome: approved.

What’s next The administrator said the marina, water and sewer budgets will be finalized and brought back to council for approval at the next meeting once state expenditure figures and fee schedules are available. The council also appointed Roberta Jankour to the personnel and finance committees to fill an unexpired term through April 2025.