By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
As a prelude to formal adoption of the budget, Whitewater officials recently took one last comb-through of the city’s 2016 proposed operations plan, which could include a 1.5-percent increase in the property tax levy.
At a Common Council meeting Nov. 3, officials reviewed specific budgets for several entities that either fall within city governance or receive some level of municipal funding.
Last week’s discussion included a glimpse into the budgets of civic organization Downtown Whitewater Inc., the fire and rescue department, long-range capital improvement plans, the water utility, the local cable TV public access channel, the neighborhood services department and the city’s six functioning tax-incremental financing (TIF) districts.
Downtown Whitewater received a fair amount of attention during last week’s review. While the city has contributed toward the organization’s operations throughout its decade in existence, the dollar figures have varied.
Last year, the city contributed $37,500, up from the $23,000 pledged the year prior. A similar funding amount is anticipated in the 2016 budget.
Kristine Zaballos, who serves on Downtown Whitewater’s board of directors, said the increased contribution on the city’s part a year ago allowed the organization’s leaders to focus less on large-scale fundraising efforts and instead shift that time and energy on community functions.
The Tuesday city market, which made its debut in mid-July, has been cited as one example of the shift in priorities. A series of logistics are being worked out, but the city market — deemed an overwhelming success by Downtown Whitewater’s leaders — is scheduled to return May 3.
While the city market has been an avenue for vendors to sell their products, Zaballos said it also is a meeting place and has served as an opportunity for people to come together.
“That was always our goal,” she said. “It was fun to see who would come and what they’d do (with the areas designated for meeting spaces).”
Most of the other specific budgetary items taken up during the most recent review are status quo, though there are some possible changes afoot within the fire and rescue department and the local cable TV operation.
The fire and rescue department is transitioning away from a separate, private organization to one that falls within the auspices of city government.
Meanwhile, Whitewater Community TV, the city organization responsible for airing community-specific programs via cable TV and online, is contending with a potential budget shortfall in the future because of a decrease in cable franchise fees that have been an important lifeblood into its operations.
To address future budgetary shortfalls, City Manager Cameron Clapper said one proposal on the table is to begin airing paid advertisements on the channel, though a specific policy would need to be drafted and approved by the council for such a plan to move forward.
Clapper’s proposed budget clocks in at $9.77 million, which is an uptick from the 2015 budget of $9.47 million. The levy, which is the city’s largest revenue source, is within the state-mandated revenue caps, Clapper said.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget at its next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, and is expected to take action after hearing residents’ feedback.
