Monday, November 1, 2010

Top Stories, November 2

Tax Levy Up 12% in the BD School District


11/2/10 - Though it was a week later than planned, the Beaver Dam School Board approved the district’s 2010-2011 budget last night. Given a week’s worth of time administrators slashed $713,000 from the $51-million budget. That leaves tax payers with a mill rate of $9.95 per thousand, down from the $10.39 rate proposed last Monday, but still a $1.06 increase over the 2009-2010 budget. Board member Marge Jorgenson says she heard from a number of residents in the past week that weren’t happy with the original number. She says many of the districts residents are operating on a fixed income, and even the people that are working haven’t been getting raises.

$302,000, or 19-cents, of the decrease came from the district cutting a revenue limit exemption for maintenance. And another $282,000, or 18-cents, came from the district using money from the debt service fund to balance the budget. They also lowered the tax levy by $84,000, which according to Superintendent Steve Vessey, is the first time in recent memory they won’t tax the full amount allowable by the state. Vessey added that this is the tightest budget the district has operated under during his time and it leaves little room for emergencies.

Total expenditures are up about 3.3-percent over the last budget, with the tax levy being set at just more than $13.3-million. A $9.95 mill rate means that the owner of a property worth $100,000 would pay $995 for the school portion of their tax bill. Officials say of the $1.06 increase to the mill rate, 65-cents is the direct result of a five-percent drop in property values in the district.

Beaver Dam Levy Increase Under 7% Goal

11/2/10 - The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee signed off on the proposed 2011 city budget last night. The document as presented will pass along an $8.2 million dollar levy to taxpayers, which is an increase of 6.99% over the current budget. Administrative Committee Chair Don Neuert says he is pleased with the budget process as a whole. He did say a constituent “called him out” for saying he was “ecstatic” that the budget increase met their 7% goal. Neuert says in this economy it is unfortunate that the city has to pass along any increase. Neuert admits "ecstatic" may have been a poor choice of words but says he is “proud of the fact” that the city did get under 7%, given the fact that 3.6% of the increase is for the new police station. It is borrowing for big ticket items like the police station that has Alderman Jon Litscher concerned about the role that debt will play in future budgets. Litscher advised caution moving forward, saying debt payments are beginning to infringe on the city’s ability to make sound decisions related to the Operating and Capital Improvement budgets.

The city last night did begin the process of borrowing for the second round of funding needed for the new police station. Carol Wirth is the city’s financial advisor says they are borrowing the remaining $3.6 million in bonds needed for the facility at an interest rate of 3.5%. The price of an average home in Beaver Dam fell by $8500 to just below $112,000. A taxpayer in that home can expect a $55 increase on the city portion of their tax bill to $885. Just under thirty dollars of that tax bill would be for the new police station. The proposed mill rate is at $7.92 per thousand, compared to this years $6.90. The budget will be considered by the full council at their November 15 meeting and is now available for public inspection in the clerk’s office at City Hall.

Election Day Finally Here


11/2/10 - One of every two Wisconsin adults are expected to choose a new governor today, and decide whether Russ Feingold should keep his U-S Senate seat. The Government Accountability Board expects two-point-two million people to vote. That would be a 50-percent turnout – lower than the record of 52-point-four percent for an off-presidential year, set in 1962. Voters will decide whether Democrat Tom Barrett or Republican Scott Walker will replace the retiring Governor Jim Doyle. And they’ll decide what could be a very close race between Senate Democrat Feingold and Republican Ron Johnson. There are also contested races for Attorney General, State Tresurer, U.S. Congress, State Assembly and State Senate. Polls are open until 8pm tonight and we’ll have all the local, state, and national results throughout the night on 1430AM WBEV and 95.3FM WXRO.

Gibson Projects High Local Turnout

11/2/10 - Statewide voter turnout is projected at 50% for today’s midterm election, but Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson is expecting local turnout to be closer to 70%. Gibson says she thinks around 33,000 voters will turn out today based on numbers from the last two elections. She says 30,000 votes were cast in the 2006 gubernatorial election and over 40,000 voted in the 2008 presidential election. Gibson also says if you plan on registering at the polls, you must provide proof of residence. If you have been issued a drivers license or Wisconsin ID card - you are not required to show it at the polls - but you must have your identification number to register. If you don’t have your driver’s license or state ID number, you can provide the last four digits of your social security number.

Nothing Can Stop New High Speed Train


11/2/10 - State-and-federal officials have signed a deal that commits Wisconsin to spending all 810-million federal stimulus dollars on the controversial new high-speed passenger train from Milwaukee-to-Madison. The deal was signed during the weekend. But it was not announced until the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel learned about it on the eve of today’s governor’s election. The train was a big issue in the race between Republican Scott Walker – who had vowed to stop the project if he’s elected today – and Democrat Tom Barrett, who supports the new line. The agreement frees Democratic Governor Jim Doyle’s administration to sign contracts for the project. Contracts have already been signed to fix up railroad bridges between Madison and Watertown to accommodate the high-speed train, and some of the work has already begun.

Seven Counterfeit Bills Reported in BD

11/2/10 - Several counterfeit bills popped up in Beaver Dam over the weekend. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says there were seven separate reports on Sunday and Monday. Phony one hundred dollar bills were reported at Rechek’s Food Pride and Shopko. Fake ten and twenty dollar bills were circulated at the Park Avenue Shell, Casey’s General Store and at S & R Taxi. Schubert advises the public to be cautious and asks that you contact the police if you detect any paper that does not feel right to the touch. He also recommends using a counterfeit detector pen. If a suspicious bill is discovered, Schubert recommends stalling the customer as long as possible or getting a good description of the suspect and the vehicle.

Waukesha Man Charged With OWI Causing Injury

11/2/10 - A Waukesha man is accused of injuring a man on a motorcycle while drunk. Gerardo Romero Banda is charged with OWI Causing Injury for allegedly rear ending the motorcyclist in August. It happened on State Highway 16-60 in the Town of Lowell. According to the criminal complaint, the 27-year-old had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when the accident occurred. Witnesses report seeing Banda throw beer cans out of the window after the incident. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, injured his head and arm and sustained road rash. A signature bond was set at $500 yesterday and a return date schedule for next month. If convicted, Banda could spend up to two years in jail and lose his license for up to four years.

Seaholm Steps Down From County Board

11/2/10 - The Dodge County Board is looking to fill a vacancy. Long time member Ray Seaholm tendered his resignation effective Sunday. The 34th District consists of the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Wards in the City of Horicon. County Board Chairman Russ Kottke will fill the seat by appointment with confirmation required by the full board. Those interested in filling the seat should submit a letter of interest to Kottke at the Administration Building in Juneau by November 15. It’s expected that a recommendation for a replacement would be made in time for confirmation by the full board in mid-December. The person seated will serve a term that expires in April of 2012.

Horse Parade Raises $2200

11/2/10 - Organizers with Sunday’s Halloween Horse Parade in Beaver Dam say the event raised over $2200 for a struggling Native American reservation. Organizer Maily Kocinski with the Dodge County Boots and Saddle Club says the funds will be directed to the Crow Creek Indian Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest reservations in the United States. Kocinski says there were 211 horses walking the four-mile parade route through Beaver Dam on Halloween Sunday, which is a higher turnout than the inaugural parade in 2008. While it does not look like its shaping up to be an annual event, Kocinski says the organization hopes to host another Halloween Horse Parade in the next couple years.




















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