Waukesha Council Approves Capital Projects for 2012

With a minimal procedure change to shift a $6,000 expenditure to the city's operating budget, the adopted Tuesday night the for the 2012 capital improvement plan.

The plan calls for the city to borrow $5.05 million to fund certain projects, including expenditures on road projects for the city’s aging infrastructure. The city is paying off about $7 million in debt in the proposed 2012 budget.

The operating budget still needs to be tackled, including the issue of the proposed for most property owners that members of the Finance Committee did not support. The city needs to cut about $1.9 million to create a flat tax levy without the garbage fees.

The Common Council agreed to cut the following items from next year’s budget:

• Inspector vehicle, $26,082
• Building inspection vehicle, $15,000
• Park/recreation van, $26,000
• Front end loader, $225,000
• Public Works dump truck, $157,000
• Old bus station repairs, $30,000
• Police Department parking lot, $188,000
• Hot box, $37,500
• VOIP (phone system); $53,000
• Alley reconstruction, $125,000
• Ambulance, $195,000

The Common Council also added in $850,000 for major street construction projects, which brings the total of major street projects to $1.83 million

In approving the CIP, many aldermen made it clear they didn’t like pushing off the above projects in efforts to cut spending during a tough budget year.

“We have pushed all those things out,” Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings said. “Let’s face it, we can’t do it all in 2013.”

Alderman Paul Ybarra said he hopes that the city’s equipment doesn’t break down during a major winter storm or at other moments.

“We are all crossing our fingers that we can make do with all of the things that we are pushing off this year,” Ybarra said.

Alderwoman Joan Francoeur asked city staff to flag the items that were cut from this year’s budget for the aldermen to review with extra consideration next year.

Waukesha resident Chris Bauman thanked Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell, city employees and the Finance Committee for all the work they had done on the budget. In watching the meetings, she said she learned a lot about the budget process and the balancing act the aldermen were looking for.

“I don’t agree 100 percent with everything, but I can live with it,” she said. “… Could you do a little better? Probably. Can I live with it? Yes.”

The city’s Finance Committee continues the operational budget discussions at 6:30 p.m. tonight.