GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – At least one Green Bay city council member is on board with Mayor Jim Schmitt’s 2017 budget plan.
The $106.3 million plan, which was brought out this week, includes the first tax increase in the last 5 years. It would be a 1.9 percent tax levy increase, translating to approximately $21.04 for the average Green Bay home (valued at $128,000).
“We’ve had zero budgets for about five years, you know things don’t go backwards. I actually think it’s a modest increase,” says Green Bay Alderman Guy Zima. “Some of the alderman, including myself, want to start addressing the basic needs that are still being somewhat neglected in our opinion.”
Schmitt told USA Today Network-Wisconsin that he believes the increase is needed to help attract and retain employees, including raises for police and fire department staff. While he agrees with the concept of raising city taxes, that’s where the typically vocal opponent of the mayor returns to the natural order of things.
“Those are union bargain positions and whatever it comes up to, it comes up to for police and fire,” Zima says. “We’re looking at all the basic services.”
Zima uses the examples of tree-trimming being at an every 8 or 9 years clip, where it used to be 5. He also says the city’s sewer system has problems and in need of lift stations.
“The mayor has money to throw at the birds for every one of his little TIF projects,” says Zima. “The basic services have to be attended to, so I think we’re going to look at something to help forestry and public works department because it’s time we start addressing the basic needs of the city.”
The city will hold an open house on the budget for the public to ask questions on Wednesday, October 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will then be discussed by joint personnel and finance committee on November 1 before the full council will take it up on November 7.
