Politics & Government

Falls Posts a Nearly $1M Budget Surplus

Staff reductions and reduced fuel costs help the village fall well short of expected expenses.

Keeping things running in Menomonee Falls is an expensive job, but staff in Village Hall were able to maintain services and end the year with a nearly $1 million surplus.

The village posted a surplus of $994,152 in its general fund, which funds essential operations at the village like government, public safety and public works. The village came in 3 percent, or $665,000, lower than budgeted expenses.

Revenues also increased by $330,000 due to higher than expected building permit activity and interest received from taxing district funds.

Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last year, the village let go seven employees and fuel costs were much lower, which both contributed to the gap between expenses. State law and a stagnant economy forced the village to drastically reorganize its structure in Village Hall. Menomonee Falls now operates with a bare-bones staff of 180 employees, which is roughly 30 percent lower than the 273 employees that once worked for the village. 

Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald said they’ve combined departments and management to flatten the organization, and they are still providing much of the same services with less people.

Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Falls will transfer $500,000 to a municipal facilities fund, which will soften the financial blow from future equipment purchases and projects. In all, the village added $2.7 million to the fund, and the hope is that by 2020 all major projects will be financed by the village. Self-financing would reduce the interest expense connected to borrowing, which is a cost that eventually impacts taxpayers.



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