Homeowners in Holmen to see bump in 2017 property taxes

New vehicles, new library part of hike

The Village of Holmen is getting close to a population of 10,000, and to keep up with growth in the community, homeowners may have to pay a bit extra in property taxes next year.

Under the 2017 budget plan published this week, overall spending in Holmen will exceed $10 million with not much change from the current year.

A significant change could come in the property tax levy, with an estimated $134 increase on a $200,000 house.

“Where we’re seeing an increase in 2017 (which is) due to our debt service increase,” Holmen village administrator Scott Heinig said. “That debt service is from the bond for a number of capital improvements for street improvements we’ve recently done, as well as the purchase of a variety of different fleet equipment – new squads, new plow trucks.”

Those costs also include construction of a new Holmen library, which began a few weeks ago.  

Heinig says Holmen also plans to hire an extra police officer and a receptionist for the village headquarters.

“We’ve already done the street work,” Heinig said. “We’ve already bought the squads. We already purchased the new plow trucks. And we’re in the process building the library.”

The budget proposal also includes a higher contribution to the Holmen Area Fire Department, to help it meet expenses.