Government

The tax levy of $439,244 for 2021 was set by the Arena Village Board at their November meeting. Only two members of the public attended the budget hearing to learn details of the 2022 budget. Expenses in the 2022 budget, $698,849, are $376 more than last year.

It was one of the toughest budget cycles yet for Sauk County. Despite that, taxpayers will get a break next year.

It’s budget season for local villages and with that residents will know what to expect for taxes next year. It’s a mixed bag this year, with one village seeing an increase, one seeing a drop, and two to be determined.

Here are the details:

Black Earth

Prairie du Sac

Village of Prairie du Sac residents will see their taxes increase next year, as the municipality has had to take on new debt. The multimillion-dollar loan to pay for the new police station led to the increase.

The Arena Village Board of Trustees made a motion to move forward with the sale of the property on 516 Oak Street during their monthly board meeting last Tuesday. Century 21 realtor Andrea Joo presented property sale options, including marketing the property as a single-family home, apartment, and commercial space.

The Village of Prairie du Sac is encouraging residents and businesses to embrace renewable energy. Leading the way, the village is purchasing blocks of renewable energy to power its streetlights for an additional annual cost of about $600. The blocks of renewable energy are available through the Prairie du Sac’s Choose Renewable program.

A Business Improvement District may be coming to downtown Mazomanie, following from a conversation between a new business owner and Mazomanie Village President Gary Harrop at last week’s meeting.

Prairie du Sac’s village board held two busy meetings on September 14 and 28, reviewing budget proposals from several departments, as well as updating the number of wards and the map used for sex offenders.

Changes to garbage collection will be coming to Sauk City in the spring, as well as now. Prices have increased from $10.75 to $11.40 per month, which equates to a total of $2.85 per week for the two different pickup days for garbage and recycling.

Black Earth residents will have a say on the use of fluoride in the village’s water supply in the next election, on April 5.