Aldermen accept New Berlin budget with small tax hike

New Berlin - The New Berlin Common Council has approved the city’s 2013 city operating budget, which calls for less than a 1 percent increase in the property tax levy.

While alderman accepted the operating budget and levy last week, the CIP budget with debt service will not be known until next week at the earliest. That’s when the council is slated to consider the capital improvements budget that involves hundreds of thousands of dollars, mostly for road work, said City Treasurer Ralph Chipman.

This year's budget process was relatively painless, compared to the last two years. The council and mayor were not as much at odds as they had been and the aldermen tended to agree on what actions needed to be taken, Ament said.

AT A GLANCE

The New Berlin operating budget and tax levy are set for 2013. Even though the roads and major expenditure budget has not been set, it will not affect the 2013 levy.

2013 Operating Budget: $34,480,800

2012 Operating Budget: $34,251,175

Difference: $229,625 more, or 0.67 percent higher

2013 Levy: $24,221,282

2012 Levy: $23,997,115

Difference: $224,167 more, or 0.93 percent higher

The $24.2 million levy is 0.93 percent, or $224,167, more than the 2012 levy. The total budget reflects a similar 0.67 percent increase, including debt service.

The $34.5 million total budget is $229,625 more than this year’s operating budget. The 2013 budget includes some money for raises.