Lake Holcombe Town Board; Budget for 2022 set, following time for public hearing

By Julia Wolf

The Town of Lake Holcombe held a public hearing on the proposed 2022 budget Nov. 11.

General property taxes were estimated to remain much the same, with an increase of just over $1,600 from the 2021 budget expected. Other intergovernmental revenues are also expected to remain steady from the previous year, except the town isn’t set to receive TRIP funding in 2022.

“So, actually, we are going to have less revenue to work with,” said town chairman Brian Guthman.

Guthman also noted that the veterans memorial donations are listed as a line item under miscellaneous revenues, which makes that section look higher than previous years.

“It’s pass-through money,” said Guthman, explaining the town does not have that money to work with, since it is donations for the memorial.

There is also a line item for other miscellaneous revenues, which is where the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money is recorded.

On the expenses side, fire protection costs went down slightly and ambulance service costs saw a more significant decrease, from $14,588 to a proposed $10,470.

“And insurance went down also,” said Tracey Larson, clerk.

Guthman also asked if 2022 is the last year for the BCPL loan repayment.

“Yes, I’ll make the last payment in March,” said Larson. Following the hearing, a special board of electors meeting took place, where those present voted to adopt a resolution to accept the town tax levy for 2022, in the amount of $348,967.

A regular meeting also took place that night, where board members approved the 2022 budget, as presented.

During the chairman’s report, Guthman says it is possible to get exemptions to Class B roads, for short-term projects.

“The biggest reason that we are doing it is to keep those gravel trucks from going on our town roads,” said Guthman.

Guthman says those in need of an exemption for a project should call him or town roadman Ben Jordan.

Guthman also reported he and Jordan gave pavement road ratings for all 198 sections of road in the township, which has to be filed with the state every year.

“We had eight sections of that, that were reconstructed and done, and 45 sections that Ben had done maintenance and treatment on in the last two years,” said Guthman.

Guthman also gave an update on the work along County Hwy. M. He says they look to be almost done with the storm sewer there and last he heard from them, they never had to disturb any of the town’s sewer pipes.

“But, they dug down and insulated them, and that kind of thing,” said Guthman. “So, I don’t know what kind of bill we’re going to expect to get out of that.”

Guthman says he would like to get an update on how the sanitary district is doing, financially and otherwise. Others agreed that would be a good idea and decided to put it on the next agenda.

Larson says she did get in contact with the Town of Birch Creek to see if they are interested in going together for the recycle round-up, and they were not.

“They just got their residents knowing where to go,” said Larson, who agreed it was a valid point.

That item will also go back on the agenda, so board members can discuss how many recycle round-ups they want to have per year.

Town treasurer and Holcombe Area Veterans Memorial Committee chairperson Jim Mataczynski, also invites anyone with questions about the veterans memorial to contact him, or any other member of the committee.