Janesville approves 15% preliminary levy increase

Members of the Janesville city council set a preliminary levy increase of 15 percent during their Sept. 22 meeting, with the expectation that city administrators would put in time over the next few months to trim the budget and lower the percentage. City administrator Clinton Rogers reminded council members that last year’s preliminary levy increase of 18 percent was whittled down to about five percent in the same way.

 

According to information provided by Rogers, the city’s approved operating budget for 2025 is $2.25 million; the current proposed budget for 2026 is $2.3 million. Rogers made it clear any increase in property taxes for 2026 will be caused more by decreases in funding provided by the state than by any increases in city expenditures. 

 

Rogers expressed confidence the increase could be kept in check even with potential insurance cost increases. He stated his thanks to staff members for compiling the needed budget amounts.

 

Council member Ivan Maas asked about funds budgeted for upkeep and painting at the library building in 2025. 

 

“We allowed $20,000 for capital repairs,” Maas stated. “At that time we had talked about painting and new furnaces. Those projects weren’t completed, correct?”

 

 “Some of the first work was completed this summer, but then we still have money slated to keep doing those,” Rogers answered.

 

Maas stated his interest in ensuring further improvements are made, commenting, “I guess the library needs a lot of work. It’s been neglected for a long time.” He went on to say money spent on the library “would be put to good use.”

 

In other business, the city received five applications for the golf course clubhouse manager position; those will be reviewed by council members on Oct. 1 with interviews to be arranged afterward. 

 

During his administrator report, Rogers mentioned the citywide cleanup had taken place on Sept. 13; when he stopped by to drop some of his items off, he said he noticed it was operating fairly smoothly and heard no concerns. 

 

Because Oct. 13 is a legal holiday, the next council meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 14.