Mitchell A. Skurzewski
Reporter
In the most recent Personnel and Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 21, Mayor Derek Woellner brought forth a motion to take action on the financial error that resulted in an unpleasant surprise for taxpayers, on their year-end bills in 2018.
Woellner asked for a 5 percent decrease over two years to atone for the error. Woellner reiterated that no one needs to be fired for the error, but he does want a correction.
“Most people saw a 7.4 percent tax rate from the city portion of their tax bill last year,” he said. “I think a 5 percent decrease would be a good amount. We have two issues, to make up for last year’s tax increase and to maintain services for this year.”
Woellner said the city can back off debt services to make the finances work and not needing to fire anyone to make it work.
8th District Alderman Tim Meehean said that isn’t how taxes work. There is a tax levy and a tax rate and those are two separate issues.
Committee chair and 1st District Alderman Paul Russell asked for finance director Kathy Unertl to run the tax rate at a 2.5 percent increase, 2.5 decrease and the same to see the best course of potential action.
“I am looking at it from the taxpayers’ perspective and I don’t think a 2.5 percent decrease is enough,” he said. “Anything that goes over the cost of living if you are on a fixed income, the city is now a greater burden on that person. I don’t ever want the city to be a greater burden on anyone.”
Unertl did say that if there is a 2.5 percent decrease a police officer, firefighter and a street employee would need to be laid off to make up for the financial implications.
“There’s not much cushion in this budget,” Unertl said.
The real issue over tax hikes stated in the meeting was that over the last three years, the city of Merrill’s assessed value has gone down nearly $20 million.
LaDonna Fermanich spoke at the end of the meeting about the recall.
“I know the recall local has caused issues, but I will say I have seen a whole lot more effort by the council to be more transparent and be more educational to the community. Then all the effort is worth it,” she said.
Signatures certified on recall, recall to move forward.
On May 24, Merrill City Clerk Bill Heideman confirmed the 724 signatures supporting an aldermanic recall, which were submitted to his office in late-April. All five districts were verified as well. Aldermen Paul Russell, Tim Meehean, Rob Norton, John Vanlieshout, and Dave Sukow will officially face recall.
Next, the aldermen can challenge the decision with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. If the decision is upheld, an election date for the recall will be set, most likely in early July. All five officials can defend their seats in the recall.