Municipal Consolidation Tax Rate Feasibility Analysis Analysis Presented to: The City and Village of Pewaukee The City and Village of Pewaukee Merger Advisory Committee March 18 2009 March 18, 2009
Previous Work Previous Work 2002 Consolidation Study 2006 Memorandum of 2006 Memorandum of Understanding 2008 Interim Report 2008 Interim Report Formation of a Merger Advisory C Committee itt Tax Rate Feasibility Analysis
2002 Consolidation Study 2002 Consolidation Study Detailed study of the potential Detailed study of the potential cost savings of consolidation Findings: Findings: – Consolidation would result in significant cost savings and g g improved levels of service – Property tax rates would increase f for City property owners and Ci d decrease for Village property owners owners
2006 Memorandum of Understanding City and Village authorized further discussion of the possible p merger Purpose was to find ways to Purpose was to find ways to better share the savings of consolidation so that both Village consolidation so that both Village and City property owners would realize property tax savings realize property tax savings
2008 Interim Report 2008 Interim Report Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning C Commission (SEWRPC) facilitated working i i (SEWRPC) f ilit t d ki sessions with the Mayor, Village President, City and Village Administrators Developed a proposed Merged Budget based on the 2008 City and Village budgets Findings: Findings: – Overall cost savings would result from consolidation – Village property owners would financially benefit Village property owners would financially benefit more than City property owners unless a means could be found to lower the tax rate for City area property owners within a consolidated municipality
Formation of the Merger Advisory Committee Executive Director of SEWRPC – Nonvoting Chair City Members—Mayor, Alderperson, 2 Citizen Members, City Administrator (nonvoting) ( ti ) Village Members—Village President, Vill Village Trustee, 2 Citizen Members, T t 2 Citi M b Village Administrator (nonvoting)
Merger Committee Retained Ruekert/Mielke and Boardman Ruekert/Mielke and Boardman for a Feasibility Study Goals: – Develop an approach to keep the property tax rate for City-area property owners at or slightly lower than it’s current level rather than than it s current level, rather than increasing due to consolidation – Improve the distribution of the Improve the distribution of the benefits of consolidation Based on Merged Budget Based on Merged Budget prepared by Administrators
Proposed Merged Budget Proposed Merged Budget Budget showed overall overall savings of $1.9 million in general fund expenses expenses
Tax Rates with Adjustments for Apples-to-Apples Comparison Goal: a Goal: a merged tax rate of $2.60 or less for the consolidated municipality municipality Need to reduce the merged g general tax levy by $787 000 per $787,000 per year
Items Outside the Scope of this Feasibility Analysis Evaluation of potential water and sewer utility savings found in previous studies studies Projections of future development or major capital projects major capital projects Recommendations as to whether the City and Village should consolidate
Four Potential Alternatives Four Potential Alternatives 1. Use of Village utility reserves to g y offset the tax levy 2. Creation of a street utility district 2. Creation of a street utility district for the Village area 3 Issue debt to create a tax rate 3. Issue debt to create a tax rate reduction fund; finance with a Village area sewer utility district Village area sewer utility district 4. Seek legislation to allow the creation of a consolidation tax creation of a consolidation tax district
Summary of Alternatives Alternative Implementation Administration Source of Funds Use of Utility Study of future utility capital; Merged gov. body Existing Village Reserves draw from reserves; establish would determine utility reserves; not tax rate reduction fund amount to draw income tax deduct- each year from tax each year from tax ible ible rate reduction fund Street utility Prepare plan for the district Merged gov. body Utility district district boundaries and costs; public would allocate property tax – hearing; resolution g annual costs to Village properties g p p district; addt’l only; tax deduct- accounting for ible district fund Tax Rate Create City and Village sewer Merged gov. body Utility district Reduction Fund utility districts; prepare plans allocate costs to property tax— Financed by for boundaries and costs; each sewer utility Village properties Village Sewer public hearings and district; allocate only; tax deduct- District resolutions; Village issues future capital costs ible debt; establish a tax rate debt; establish a tax rate between districts; between districts; reduction fund addt’l accounting for 2 utilities Seek legislation Draft legislation; seek Additional Consolidation tax to allow the to allow the sponsors; prepare a plan for sponsors; prepare a plan for accounting for accounting for district property tax district property tax creation of a district boundaries, amount of district fund levy – Village Consolidation funding; structure of properties only; tax Tax District payments; could require a deductible referendum
Summary of Alternatives Alternative City Tax Rates Village Tax Duration Impact on Rates Rates Water & Sewer Water & Sewer Utilities Use of Utility At or below Same as post- 10-15 year; Could merge Reserves current rates consol. City; depends on amount utilities or keep much lower much lower drawn and the drawn and the financially financially than current desired level of tax separate rates rate reduction Street utility By itself, could Higher than Indefinite; continue Could merge district achieve 50- City-area, but y , until services levels utilities 100% of desired lower than are the same or reduction, current Village merged gov. body depends on rates dissolves the costs incl. district Tax Rate At or below Higher than 10-15 years; Would have to Reduction Fund current rates City-area rates, depends on the keep sewer Financed by but lower than amount of debt utilities Village Sewer current Village issued and the financially District District tax rates tax rates desired level of tax desired level of tax separate until separate until rate reduction the debt was retired Seek legislation At or below Higher than Flexible; time Could merge to allow the to allow the current City current City City-area rates City-area rates, period could be set period could be set utilities utilities creation of a property tax but lower than by agreement Consolidation rates current Village between City and Tax District rates Village
Conclusions Conclusions Any of the four alternatives may be y y feasible to achieve the goals Caveats – Legal challenges could potentially be raised – Street utility district option may need to be St t tilit di t i t ti d t b used in conjunction with another alternative – Each option has advantages and disadvantages
Recommendations 1. Seek legislation to allow the creation of a special taxing district for consolidation a special taxing district for consolidation 2. Conduct a study of future utility capital projects for City and Village utilities to projects for City and Village utilities to determine: i) future cost avoidance; ii) the amount of Village utility reserves g y that could be used 3. Prepare a plan for a street utility district p p y 4. If legislation is unsuccessful, use the street utility district and Village sewer/water utility reserves
“There are many issues for the City and y y Village to consider as they decide whether to pursue consolidation. This report demonstrates that should the City and Village decide to consolidate, the consolidation can be structured so that consolidation can be structured so that the property tax rates for City and Village residents will not increase. Village residents will not increase. Concerns regarding tax rate increases for City property owners can be overcome and should not, therefore, stand as an impediment to consolidation of the City and Village.” f th Cit d Vill ”
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