Town of Lakeside Budget Workshop Minutes

October 17, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Town Hall

Present: Chairperson Gary Peterson, Supervisors Gerald Tutor and Mary Peterson, Jon Winter, Clerk, Joanne O’Hara, Treasurer; Mark Saari, Operator, and Nova Nordrum, Fire Chief.

Call to order: 9:00 a.m.

Budget workshop

The Board began preparing the proposed 2027 budget. The Clerk reviewed projected state aid and other revenues, the municipal levy worksheet, and anticipated debt service. Projected 2027 debt service was approximately $35,816, with the debt service levy at $22,869 as in previous years.

The Board reviewed revenue and expenditure estimates, including fire department costs, highway operations, equipment, and the collection site. Board expenses were increased last year to purchase new chairs and were decreased for 2027 by a like amount.  Fire Department budget moved $20,000 from general equipment to communications/radios.  Website and Hosting was increased last year for the cost of building the new website and decreased this year without that expected cost. Election salaries and expenses were decreased due to only two scheduled elections next year, down from 4 elections this year. The Board discussed compensation assumptions and adjustments to several operating line items. The proposed budget review continued at the October 20 workshop.

The meeting adjourned by motion. Adjournment time: 11:50 a.m.

October 20, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | Town Hall

Present: Chairperson Gary Peterson, Supervisors Gerald Tutor and Mary Peterson, Jon Winter, Clerk, Joanne O’Hara, Treasurer, Nova Nordrum, Fire Chief, and Martin Pflug, Fire Dept.

Call to order: 6:30 p.m.

Continued budget workshop

The Board continued its review of projected revenues and proposed expenditures for 2027. The road equipment budget was increased from $25,000 to $37,000 to provide for anticipated equipment needs. The sanitation disposal budget was increased from $27,500 to $40,000 because of current YTD expenses. The annual collection-site special charge on tax bills was increased from $125 to $150. The Board expected a significant number of additional properties to be charged this fee after review of prior year oversights. Property owners’ requests for refunds may be considered with supporting information.  The gravel budget was set at $75,000. The Board discussed the Town Treasurer’s compensation. The posted special town meeting agenda proposed increasing the Treasurer’s annual salary from $6,800 to $8,400, effective with the next term beginning in April 2027. Town Board and Clerk increases will remain the same as passed at the Town Annual meeting this past April.  The proposed annual pay for the Fire Chief was set at $5,500. Both salary amounts exclude the Town’s employer share of FICA taxes. Full-time 1 retirement was increased from $4,800 annually to $6,000 annually.

Mary Peterson moved to approve the proposed 2027 budget. Gerald Tutor seconded. The motion carried.

The Board discussed scheduling the budget proceedings for November 10, 2026. The notices posted October 24 list the Public Budget Hearing at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall, followed by the Special Town Meeting of Electors to consider the Town tax levy and then the Special Town Board Meeting to adopt the 2027 budget, before the regular monthly Town Board meeting. The posted agenda lists the proposed 2026 tax levy, to be collected in 2027, as $176,226. The notices list Town Hall, the Collection Site, and the website as posting locations.

The meeting adjourned by motion of Chairperson Gary Peterson and seconded by Supervisor Gerald Tutor. Adjournment time: 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, October 24, 2026 – Jon Winter, Clerk