The Fond du Lac city manager says a proposed 2015 city budget includes no major changes in service levels, with the exception of an increase in funding for the emerald ash borer infestation, and additional funding for street reconstruction. The Fond du Lac city council will receive the budget at a special meeting next Wednesday. City manager Joe Moore says the property tax levy limit is allowed to increase by an estimated net new construction of 1.97 percent. State shared revenues are unchanged and state highway aids are estimated to increase by $235,000. The budget includes $200,000 for removal and treatment of ash trees to address the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, $190,000 for street reconstruction and a one time $10,000 payment to the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation for a community-wide strategic plan. Moore says one of the more significant changes is an increase in the amount of annually recurring capital projects funded by general operating revenues rather than long-term debt. Capital financed by operations in the 2015 budget is $2,079,000 compared to $625,000 in the 2014 budget. Moore says reductions in budgeted operating costs, most notably wages and benefits, allow for the additional pay-as-you-go financing of capital projects.
