City of Baraboo to add referendum regarding property tax levy

BARABOO, Wis. -- The Baraboo City Council voted Thursday to place a new referendum question on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot, asking voters whether or not they support an increase in the property tax levy.

The City of Baraboo said in a press release Friday the referendum question asks voters to decide if they support a $2 million increase in the property tax levy, beginning in 2025, to maintain its current level of service in the face of rising operational costs. Additionally, the referendum aims to fund additional staff to meet the needs of the growing Baraboo community.

The city said the referendum comes in response to inflation, which has increased costs of services, and the needs of a growing population. While Baraboo's population has increased between 2013 and 2024, the number of full-time employees has decreased due to budget constraints.

While increases to shared revenue from the State of Wisconsin this year have provided a much-needed boost in municipal funding, the City of Baraboo said it is not enough to offset years of underfunding and rising costs due to inflation. Without additional funding, the City will have to make difficult decisions regarding services to the community such as closing the Ochsner Park Zoo, reducing library hours and considering a closure of the Campbell Park swimming pool.

If the referendum is approved, the City said it will be able to maintain its current level of support to the community and add staff to help maintain the City’s operations. The property tax levy in 2025 would increase by approximately $2 million, establishing the new property tax going forward.

The city said the referendum will appear as follows on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot:

"Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Baraboo for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 3.189%, which results in a levy of $9,579,603. Shall the City of Baraboo be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025, for the purpose of funding the ongoing operations and services of the City, by a total of 20.878%, which results in a levy of $11,579,603, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $2,000,000 for each fiscal year going forward?"

The City will be sharing information about the referendum with residents online, through direct mail and at public information sessions ahead of the November election. More information will be available on the City’s website in the coming weeks.

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