By Jason Emerson
Editor
The Fenner Town Board has adopted the final 2017 town budget, which includes 25 cent tax increase from last year.
The $1 million preliminary town budget is down $35,824 from the 2016 budget, but the town will also receive $115,000 less this year in tax revenue from the windmills, according to Supervisor Dave Jones.
Under the budget, the town tax rate will be $3.34 per every $1,000 of assessed value, which is a 25-cent increase from 2016.
The board had previously predicted that town taxes would go up this year due to the end of the Fenner Wind Farm’s 15-year PILOT program with the town, which put the windmills on the town tax rolls and reduced the windmill revenue received by the town.
The board held a public hearing for the budget during its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 9, during which one resident asked if the board had considered a municipal pay freeze for the year to keep costs down. Jones said he had not considered it because town employees and elected officials give more time and commitment to their jobs than most people understand. Also, even though the board did not receive pay increases this year, he said annual pay increases of some sort are necessary because without attractive pay, people will not seek to do the job.
“It needs to be a little attractive,” he said.
Town Clerk Paula Douglas said Fenner is the lowest paid town board in Madison County, and that their salaries make up only a tiny fraction of the overall budget.
Also at the meeting, Jones said the village attorney is currently writing legislation that will allow a change in the terms of office for supervisor, town clerk and highway superintendent from two to four years, as well as for creating new zoning and planning application procedures. Those pieces of legislation will be proposed at the board’s Dec. 14 regular monthly meeting, Jones said.
The board is also considering updating and revising the town’s land use regulations, which Jones said they will look at during a board work session either before or after the Dec. 14 meeting.
The board also reminded residents that the monthly town board meeting schedule will change starting next month. From December through March, the meetings will be held at 12:30 p.m. rather than 8 p.m. Meetings still will be held in the town office building at 3151 Fenner East Road.
More information on the town budget and other issues can be found on the town website at townoffenner.com.
