Appleton budget increases spending by 4% but reduces burden on most taxpayers

Contents

How much is the city spending?What’s it going to cost me?What capital projects are planned?Where can I find a copy of the budget?What if I want to get involved?

APPLETON — Mayor Jake Woodford’s proposed 2025 city budget calls for a 4.2% increase in spending, but a slight decrease in property taxes for a majority of homeowners due in part to the correction of a valuation error made last year by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

The assessed tax rate for city services is projected to decrease 1.6% for Appleton homeowners in Outagamie County and 4.1% for Appleton homeowners in Calumet County.

“I would not have expected it to go down with spending up in a couple of areas,” Woodford told The Post-Crescent.

The story is different for the small number of Appleton homeowners in Winnebago County, where the city tax rate will increase 10.5% due to a decline in property values and the repayment of a loan that avoided a bigger tax increase from the state error last year.

Finance Director Jeri Ohman said the Department of Revenue mistakenly overvalued property within Appleton’s tax incremental financing districts last year, resulting in the overcollection of taxes. The new budget corrects the error.

Other factors helping to lower the tax rate for most property owners were a $146.9 million increase in property values from new construction and the replacement of personal property taxes with state aid.

In addition, city revenues are projected to increase, including a 10.8% jump in licenses and permits and a 21.7% jump in fines and forfeitures.

“We remain in a very strong fiscal position, with more opportunities for growth on the horizon,” Woodford said in his message to the community.

Here’s what else you need to know about the 2025 budget.

How much is the city spending?

As drafted, the budget lists $199.8 million in expenditures. That’s up 4.2% from the 2024 budget.

The budget specifies a 3% merit-based pay increase for nonunion employees. It adds 1.5 positions at the newly renovated and expanded Appleton Public Library, including a pool of part-time security monitors to replace a contracted security service. It also adds a half-time administrative assistant in the Health Department. The changes would bring city staff to the full-time equivalent of 653 positions.

The cost of health insurance would increase 3% next year, compared with 18% this year, after Appleton’s self-funded health insurance plan outperformed projections and market averages.

Debt service costs next year would rise 3.5% to $16.5 million as Appleton pays for borrowing on past capital projects. However, total outstanding debt would decline from $95.5 million this year to $93.8 million next year.

What’s it going to cost me?

The tax levy necessary to support the budget is $55.3 million, a 0.9% increase.

As proposed, the assessed tax rate for Appleton property owners in Outagamie County would decrease 1.6% to $6.92 per $1,000 of valuation. The owner of a $225,000 home would pay $1,557 in property taxes for city services next year. That’s a decrease of $27.

The assessed tax rate for Appleton property owners in Calumet County would decrease 4.1% to $6.66 per $1,000 of valuation. The taxes on a $225,000 home would be $1,499, a decrease of $65.

The assessed tax rate for Appleton property owners in Winnebago County would increase 10.5% to $7.21. The taxes on a $225,000 home would be $1,622, an increase of $153.

The calculations only account for city services and don’t include taxes for schools or the respective county.

The budget includes a 9% sanitary sewer rate increase, more than double what was planned, to pay for the maintenance of the anaerobic digesters at the wastewater treatment plant and additional capital projects that were not identified in a 2020 rate study. The budget also plans for an 8% increase in garbage cart fees to cover higher landfill tipping rates.

In addition, the Co mmon Council inc reased the wheel tax from $20 to $30 effective Jan. 1.

What capital projects are planned?

Appleton’s 2025 capital improvements program budgets $7.8 million for asphalt and concrete paving. The percentage of streets rating above minimum rideability stood at 95.5% in June, just shy of the city’s target of 96%.

Other noteworthy expenditures include:

$3.8 million to upgrade the electrical system at the wastewater treatment plant. A second phase of work, also costing $3.8 million, is planned in 2027.
$2.5 million to acquire land for a stormwater pond along the west side of South Lynndale Drive.
$1.7 million to do structural repairs and maintenance on the city’s three downtown parking ramps. Similar expenses are anticipated in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
$1.5 million to paint the exterior of the Ridgeway water tower, 18 Lilac Court, and the exterior and interior of the North water tower, 6721 Ballard Road.
$1.3 million to pay for the city’s share of reconstructing the Olde Oneida Street bridge over the south power canal.
$1.3 million to renovate the Community Development and Assessor work spaces at City Hall.
$1.2 million to renovate the Facilities & Grounds Operations Center, 1819 Witzke Blvd.
$1.1 million to inspect and repair the two digesters at the wastewater treatment plant.
$805,000 to construct a pavilion at Lundgaard Park, using donated funds.
$440,000 to purchase cardiac monitors for the Appleton Fire Department to improve care prior to the arrival of an ambulance. In 2023, medical emergencies accounted for 76% of the fire department’s service calls.
$375,000 to renovate the Pierce Park pavilion.

Where can I find a copy of the budget?

The 694-page budget is posted on the city’s website. Printed copies are available for review at the city clerk’s office at City Hall, 100 N. Appleton St.