BELOIT 鈥 The city of Beloit would see 15.1% overall spending decrease for 2024 under a budget plan presented at a public hearing Monday night.
The proposed $110 million 2024 budget is a decrease of $19.7 million, or 15.17%, from the 2023 budget.
The public hearing held at Monday鈥檚 city council meeting moves the council closer approving the 2024 budget. It is scheduled for adoption on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., at a meeting at City Hall.
Finance Director Eric Miller said that the proposed decrease is due to a host of infrastructure projects wrapping up in 2024 and the closure of several TIF districts.
鈥淲e had multiple big projects that were budgeted in 2023, that will carry over into 24, so we don't need to budget for him again,鈥 he said, 鈥淚t's not that we're doing less or cutting services or anything like that. We're still providing all the same services.鈥
The proposed general fund budget is $39.3 million, an increase of $2.92 million or 8% from 2023.
The city鈥檚 total proposed 2023 tax levy is $19.7 million, an increase of $534,000 or 2.79%, over 2023.
The city鈥檚 portion of the tax rate for 2024 is proposed to be $7.55 per $1,000 of assessed value, meaning the owner of an average $200,000 home in Beloit would owe $1,510 in city taxes. That's an increase of $12 over 2023.
Department budgets
Miller and City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos said some city departments are proposed to see budget increases.
The budget for information and tech is proposed to be $1.18 million, an increase of 18.6%, or $186,228, over 2023.
The other big increase is in public works which is proposed to see a budget of $8.7 million, a 29.75% increase or $1.99 million more than in 2023.
Gabrielatos said one desktop analyst and one project manager are proposed to be added in the IT department. Another planner position is proposed to be added in community development and a deputy public works director is proposed to be hired.
Other positions being added or changed include increasing hours for a part-time custodian position from 20 to 28 hours per week. Two maintenance specialist positions are proposed to be added to public works. Three equipment operators to create a dig crew are proposed to be added to the water resources department and one equipment operator will be added to the wastewater group, converted from a seasonal position.
Gabrielatos said adding more IT staff will help all of the departments stay on top of technonogy issues.
鈥淗opefully, we're able to get ahead of some things rather than just always be working on hoping to improve, improve turnaround times for items internally," he said. 鈥淭hen also for our customers or our residents or taxpayers, we can respond to them a little bit better.鈥
The maintenance positions the city is proposing to add will help with the current workload, officials said.
Gabrielatos said another planner would be helpful as that department finishes up work on the city鈥檚 comprehensive plan.
鈥淚'm hoping that with more staff we will be able to be more forward looking instead of just managing issues in the neighborhoods like development review and things,鈥 he said.
Gabrielatos said a deputy public works director position is proposed because the public works staff has about 100 people and the current director does not have a second person in command.
Gabrialtos said hopefully by adding all of these positions the city will be able to work on bigger picture projects, beyond the day-to-day.
Wastewater utility
The wastewater utility is proposing a 4% rate increase to fund capital projects needed to maintain and expand critical infrastructure.
The city鈥檚 proposed special revenue is $13 million, a 34.35%, or $6.8 million decrease from 2023.
Miller said this was due to the city closing four TIF districts in 2023. The decrease was due to the majority of ARPA and TIF Housing funds from TID #10 being budgeted in 2023.