[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6541754,"mediaKeyId","5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951","parentId",5888268,"title","Votes at a glance: West Bend actions include polling-place relocation, stormwater amendment and budget review","audioSeconds",1533,"startMs",22000,"endMs",1555000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951&start=22&end=1555","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951/thumbnail_22000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541754/West-Bend-City/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-West-Bend-actions-include-polling-place-relocation-stormwater-amendment-and-budget-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541754-a52873aecadff9263cb638465dc5034c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139891&Signature=HRvZk93SI8AOqJS9PTLgI3mFPsvauvZksX3DwknCR8XhCUE0UzaVj9rPcID6gkLaFMrzH-8uiA5BX0kHE5~ld13oqY-VlhankAQ2NvUBQxkNZVwSMrvD6pkW1tZnLAmOXtxYHUPOLcgbKaP8r~OiIResUMFxS-1AcnIOe39fSWeiqM63Jy4QaYQ76u6dVtuN1A4qzmZ-ZbS7N5OG6De~tQdpz4Gp0DdOqsj207QYvP4~fV69AWPon3qji9pvaBfbbqJWpoIFz8-mmf~zj27wPSPPwB8xWUJAeYFRWvZI-AEIUJ8E~m~esZDNO~i6SoDpWgzUAjZAo7B8yVeGA-D0xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Bend, WI","date","2025-10-07T01:10:03Z","article","The City of West Bend convened Oct. 6, 2025, and approved a series of agenda items, including an amendment to a stormwater maintenance agreement, the transfer of funds to support Special Olympics, acceptance of three donations to parks and recreation programs, an amendment to the traffic manual and an ordinance permanently relocating Districts 5 and 6 polling places. The council also voted to enter closed session to discuss potential land sale or development incentives.

Why it matters: The day’s approvals affect stormwater management at a private development, funding for local recreation and Special Olympics activities, how parking rules are enforced downtown, where residents vote, and the near‑term course of the city’s capital and budget work. The council heard a detailed presentation of the 2026 proposed general fund budget at the same meeting; final adoption is scheduled for early November.

Summary of recorded formal actions

- Board of Public Works: Approved an amendment (Amendment 3) to stormwater maintenance agreement SWMP W-17-05 for the Good Shepherd development (Decorah Road). Staff recommended approval after recalculating flows and confirming the new treatment system complies with city regulations. Motion and second recorded; vote recorded as in favor and motion carried (detailed tally not specified in the transcript).

- Finance Committee / Common Council: Resolution No. 37 — transfer of $1,000 from the YARC (therapeutic recreation) account to an expense account for supplies for the Special Olympics program. Presenter said the YARC account had $30,000; funds originate from donations. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Finance Committee / Common Council: Resolution No. 36 — acceptance of three donations to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. A previously listed $45,000 donation for a sculpture was removed from the resolution and will be brought back at a later date. The three donations approved: $49,250 from West Bend Friends of Skatepark for skatepark design and construction documents; $400 from West Bend Disc Golf Club for Riverside Disc Golf Course; and $738.50 from Lynch Motor Vehicle Group for Special Olympics. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Common Council: Ordinance No. 15 — permanent relocation of District 5 and District 6 polling places to a consolidated location at Moraine Technical College (discussion cited limited availability of neighborhood polling sites, safety concerns at schools, electrical/outlet needs for election equipment and difficulty recruiting election inspectors). Motion to approve carried. The motion to approve was moved by Alderman Sternig and seconded by Alderman Buscleyuk; the roll call at final passage was recorded as “Aye” for those voting at the meeting (no formal roll-call tally printed for this ordinance in the transcript aside from the motion outcome).

- Common Council: Resolution No. 35 — amendment to the traffic manual to add Redwood Street (east of Acadia) to a posted two‑hour parking area. Chief Dearing said the restriction is already posted and enforced; the amendment makes the manual accurate. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Common Council: Motion to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public property, investment of public funds, or conduct other specified public business when competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Roll call votes were recorded during the motion: Sparks — Aye; Bergquist — Aye; Schmidt — Aye; Zingsheim — Aye; Butchler — Aye; Engelking — Aye; Sizer — Aye; Sternig — Aye. The council adjourned from closed session and did not reconvene in open session.

Notes and next steps: The council solicited additional public notice and outreach on polling location changes and will present the capital improvement plan and related borrowing at the Oct. 20 meeting. Final adoption of the 2026 budget is scheduled for the first week of November.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council - October 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of West Bend convened Oct. 6, 2025, and approved a series of agenda items, including an amendment to a stormwater maintenance agreement, the transfer of funds to support Special Olympics, acceptance of three donations to parks and recreation programs, an amendment to the traffic manual and an ordinance permanently relocating Districts 5 and 6 polling places.","taxTitle","West Bend City, Washington County, Wisconsin","taxId",5138,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541744,"Council hears 2026 general fund budget: $28.35 million levy, $6.46 estimated city tax rate",782,1539000,2321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951&start=1539&end=2321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951/thumbnail_1539000.jpg","/articles/6541744/West-Bend-City/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Council-hears-2026-general-fund-budget-2835-million-levy-646-estimated-city-tax-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541744-3adc945d03ca77a8c0f458a01a1ad589/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139891&Signature=IO3PVLirU1KESjQvAOGJAAj8-6icKwf~0ByNXFV8vk4NxcNyFjnCZeisRc0fchfqx9SxN1JXV2N1So3VMcd7J2wmmAiteEzaQ5Zi~ZbUz8P5CXevXxJQILuizvaiQyllUEzhdnRGpg4jyLaHb7Ss-5h1hpCn3K6ByhNywd3-o0CIprqYX-7hcHjo5SJ1ampET9~eyxnzaTpRKDrcTYQ~TiOj2OtxEEpbJqJ8nVQpfLJ4TIrx7jNPdyrHhO7FB2-ehPTXKnm~6Ll-L~u8QB21kmON5hdYMkrj6YkkZg-ungtWvDfzAesm4ByoYE45yTMpFA1WMLyEm4v5LjCf2UTVGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the proposed 2026 general fund budget to the Common Council on Oct. 6, 2025. Jesse, the budget presenter, said the recommended overall tax levy is $28,345,123 — a 7.1% increase from the prior year — and that staff estimate a city tax rate of $6.46 per $1,000 of assessed value. That rate translates, under the assumptions presented, to an estimated city tax portion of about $1,938.28 for an average home assessed at just over $300,000.

Nut graf: The proposal preserves or improves municipal services, shows a healthy projected fund balance (28% versus a 17% minimum recommendation) and funds higher debt service principally tied to the recently approved new fire station. Staff emphasized the figures are subject to change pending state property value inputs and levy numbers from overlapping jurisdictions.

Key figures and assumptions presented

- Recommended tax levy: $28,345,123 (7.1% increase).
- Estimated city tax rate: $6.46 per $1,000 of assessed value (2025 rate was $6.10). Without the new fire station debt, staff said the rate would have been approximately $6.34.
- Estimated average city tax for a single‑family home valued at about $300,000: $1,938.28 (city portion only; excludes county, school and technical college levies).
- Projected fund balance: 28% (city minimum recommended at 17%).

Staffing and budget adjustments

Jesse said the budget includes several staffing changes: one additional full‑time equivalent (FTE) in the Department of Public Works, one additional FTE in Parks, Recreation & Forestry, reclassification of the airport superintendent from part‑time to full‑time to support the airport improvement and expansion project, and reclassification of an office technician in the clerk’s office to assistant deputy clerk to better match duties and pay.

Budget methodology and timeline

Staff said some increases reflect consolidating technology and licensing under IT for oversight. The presentation also flagged that the city is still awaiting manufacturing property valuations from the State of Wisconsin and levy numbers from the school district and county, which could affect the final tax rate. Capital borrowing and the capital improvement plan will be presented in detail at the Oct. 20 meeting; final budget approval is scheduled for the first week of November.

Council comments and next steps

Council members thanked staff and department heads for their work and were urged to submit questions to Jesse, the mayor or department heads before the final budget adoption. Staff asked council members to direct technical questions ahead of the Nov. meeting rather than on the floor at adoption.","City staff presented the proposed 2026 general fund budget Oct. 6, 2025. The recommended tax levy is $28,345,123 (a 7.1% increase) and staff estimated a city tax rate of $6.46 per $1,000 of assessed value; the proposal includes staffing changes, a 28% projected fund balance and higher debt service tied to a new fire station.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541749,"Council approves permanent relocation of two polling districts to Moraine Technical College",545,815000,1360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951&start=815&end=1360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888268-2d105115817be6886e03cebb77d1f951/thumbnail_815000.jpg","/articles/6541749/West-Bend-City/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-permanent-relocation-of-two-polling-districts-to-Moraine-Technical-College","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541749-90c358b6bbb3eff4a9e200316c16a7a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139891&Signature=QaDwbvSHzrYDvX9PORlQlftZ6k5RjxgRs52ZKOBNdwkCVX6fK6DeroSTaOPzq~NQgqdZ2Hp6LvQdq4VDzZIS9cXLOhoOwjrXNrA~R2std-99smAUCpHoUZ~5bYjaaXXH2kLOrGQB52yjk32tspHWHNMZJ2dO79g2tL49oFFmgswjOc1-Ml5gOxP9A2V2S2RDijYYK7kEzNfjAEzek3CiN5yNqck-GJIgCf7EmYyMe7FuG2P~zM3CMwkTyuELa0anQShn3JE2rYpILjL4P6da~vCC12Dr9gNx1YF0CM7q1ecGLA9-DT3FLGWUl~jCg0twU-WMzunQzZAne22Z60uNSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Bend Common Council voted Oct. 6, 2025, to approve Ordinance No. 15, permanently relocating polling places for Districts 5 and 6 to a consolidated site at Moraine Technical College.

Clerk’s explanation and staff reasoning: The city clerk told the council that Washington County notified the city that one of the existing polling facilities would be unavailable because of remodeling and that the PAC center may not be available in the future. The clerk said the Moraine Technical College space can hold three districts, has suitable electrical capacity for election equipment and accessible entrances, and would simplify staffing and logistics. The clerk added, “it just made sense to us to try to consolidate election inspectors as it's getting more and more difficult to try to recruit election inspectors to work.”

Why it matters: Consolidating polling locations affects where residents go to vote in person; staff and council said the change would reduce the number of voting stations the city must staff and supply and could therefore reduce costs, but it may increase travel distance for some voters. The clerk noted that in the presidential election about 53–54% of voters used absentee voting (by mail or in‑person absentee), and that the county distributes election‑related advertising; the city will also publish notices and signage for the change.

Discussion and accommodations: Council members raised concerns about walking distance, parking and accessibility. Staff said the college has ADA entrances and that curbside voting is available: “If anyone wants to curb side vote, we have signage where they call, and then two of our election inspectors go out to the car.” The clerk and staff also evaluated alternative sites (including airport hangars) but identified operational obstacles such as snow removal and electrical capacity.

Vote: The motion to approve Ordinance No. 15 was moved by Alderman Sternig and seconded by Alderman Buscleyuk and carried. The council directed the clerk’s office to do public outreach and post signage; staff will also rely on county‑wide flyers and the city’s website to inform voters.

Next steps: The city will notify residents of the new polling location, publish absentee‑voting options and follow up with specific signage and outreach before upcoming elections.","The council approved Ordinance No. 15 to consolidate three districts into one Moraine Technical College polling location for Districts 5 and 6, citing loss of an existing polling facility, recruitment and equipment needs, and accommodations for voters.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: West Bend actions include polling-place relocation, stormwater amendment and budget review

Council hears 2026 general fund budget: $28.35 million levy, $6.46 estimated city tax rate

Council approves permanent relocation of two polling districts to Moraine Technical College