Both City of Rhinelander and Oneida County finalized 2016 budgets this week

By Jared Raney
Reporter

City Council budget
The Rhinelander City Council approved a budget of $8.9 million for 2016. The biggest general expenditures were public safety, at just over $4 million, and transportation, coming in at around $2 million.

The City will earn the majority of its revenue from the general tax levy, which acounts for over $4.5 million.

Assessed value for the city decreased from 2014, by about $3 million, resulting in a tax rate of 10.52555, or $1,052.56 for a $100,000 home. It’s an increase in tax rate of .60 percent, or $6.11.

Mark Pelletier, head of the Finance, Wage & Salary Committee, said of this year’s budget at a meeting, “balancing the budget was easier than it’s been in a long time.”

County Board budget
Oneida County budgeted $51 million for 2016, which is a 13 percent increase from 2015’s $58 million budget.

The County tax levy will be increased 1.7 percent, or $262,417, representing a $3 increase on a $100,000 home from 2015, with a total at $235 per $100,000 home.

The biggest budget change comes in the form of a $450,000 increase in road construction costs.

Department heads across the board were asked to cut their individual budgets by five percent to limit the tax levy, which, though increased, still fell in under the maximum levy limit.

“This budget, for 2016, was the best-orchestrated budget in 12 years,” said Ted Cushing, board supervisor and finance committee member, who went on to thank the rest of the committee and department heads for their diligence on the budget.