November 20th meeting
The City Council set the tax levy at $7,899,490. The levy is the portion of a taxing entity's budget that must be funded by property taxes. This is a $254,490 increase over the 2024 tax levy.
The City's valuation decreased by $30 million due to changes in personal property tax laws. As of January 1, 2024, businesses in Wisconsin are no longer subject to personal property tax due to the enactment of 2023 Wisconsin Act 12. This decrease in valuation will increase the tax rate even if the levy remains the same as last year.
The approved levy included a reduction in the subsidies given to area nonprofits. Prior to the vote on the tax levy, council member Gretchen Yonko made a motion to adjust the subsidy amounts to 2024 levels except for the Ludington Guard Band request, which would be the requested $12,000 (LGB received $20,000 in 2024). After much discussion, the motion failed.
The City’s budget for 2025 is $19,144,298, an increase of $489,777 from the 2024 budget.
The Council approved the proposed development agreement with Fishin Magician, LLC, for improvements at 300 Crescent Street. The city adopted a project plan to finance certain costs for development in TID #19, where this property is located. The project plan includes a Facade Improvement Grant Program - where the developer can receive financial assistance for projects to renovate building fronts and exterior improvements - and a Cash Grants Program for developers. The project plan allows for reimbursement grants of 20% of eligible project costs, not to exceed $50,000. The eligible project costs at 300 Crescent Street are approximately $69,000.
In other business the Council:
Approved the 2025-2027 Ridership Agreement with Dunn County Transit. DCT made a subsidy request to the City for approximately $25,000 per year for the past several years. With the City cutting subsidies to area nonprofits, the City proposed entering into a contract for specific services rendered. The City will pay DCT $6,985 once per quarter through the end of 2027.
Approved the proposed Downtown Menomonie Business Improvement District operating plan for 2025.
December 2nd meeting
The Council approved the 2025 TID (Tax Increment District) budgets. Menomonie has seven active TIDs. TID #15 includes the downtown area, and the budget includes subsidies for the Mabel Tainter and Downtown Menomonie, Inc. The Mabel Tainter had made a subsidy request for $60,000 and Downtown Menomonie, Inc. for $25,000. These were the same amounts these two organizations received from the City in 2024. In the proposed budget, these amounts were reduced by 25%.
Council member Cody Gentz made a motion to approve the budget with subsidies funded at the requested amount. The motion failed. Council member Matthew Crowe then made a motion to approve the TID budgets, with Downtown Menomonie, Inc. receiving $25,000 and the Mabel Tainter $45,000. This motion passed.
The Council approved the Wakanda Waterpark fee schedule. The daily admission fee will increase by $1, family passes by $20, and youth, adult, and senior passes by $10. With the increased fee, lifeguard wages will be increased, and the waterpark hours will be expanded.
In other business the Council:
Approved the 2025 Water, Wastewater, and Solid Waste and Storm Water Utility Budgets as presented.
Approved the 2025 Construction Fund Budget.
Approved the land lease agreement with Christmas Miracle, Inc.
Approved increases to the solid waste site fees effective January 1, 2025.
Approved the expenditure of $5,483.22 in ARPA funds to help cover the cost of a refurbished ambulance.
