Finance Committee

CITY OF VERONA 111 Lincoln Street Verona, WI 53593 (608) 845-6495 veronawi.gov FINANCE COMMITTEE DATE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 TIME: 5:00 PM LOCATION: CONFERENCE ROOM D110 CITY HALL 111 LINCOLN STREET VERONA, WI 53593 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comment 4. Discussion and Possible Action re: Recommended Approval of the August 25, 2025, Finance Committee Minutes 5. Discussion and Possible Action re: 2026 Budget Updates (Presentations-Senior Center, Police Department and Emergency Preparedness) 6. Discussion and Possible Action re: Payment of Bills 7. Adjournment. Mara Helmke - Chairperson POSTED: September 5, 2025 Verona City Hall Verona Public Library Miller’s Market All agendas are posted on the City website at: veronawi.gov Notice: If you need an interpreter, materials in alternative formats, or other accommodation to access the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (608) 845-6495 at least 48 hours preceding the meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate your request. Notice is hereby given that a quorum of the members of the City Council or other standing committees of the City Council may be present at the meeting of the Finance Committee to gather information about a subject over which they have decision-making responsibility. The City Council and any other standing committees will not take formal action at this meeting.  City of Verona Finance Committee City Hall – 111 Lincoln Street Verona, WI 53593-1520 MINUTES FINANCE COMMITTEE AUGUST 25, 2025 The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Mara Helmke at 5:00 p.m. Roll Call: Chairperson Mara Helmke, Alder Patrick Lytle and Alder Spencer Harrison were present. Also present: Mayor Luke Diaz, City Administrator Jamie Aulik, Finance Director Brian Lamers, Fire Chief Dan Machotka, EMS Chief Patrick Anderson and Communication Manager Mara Trusty Public Comment: None Discussion and Possible Action regarding approval of August 11, 2025 Finance Committee minutes: A correction was noted regarding the motion to pay the bills was done by Helmke and seconded by Harrison which was left out of the minutes. Lamers will make the correction. Motion was made by Helmke, seconded by Lytle to approve the August 11, 2025 Finance Committee minutes with the changes noted. Motion carried 3-0. Discussion and Possible Action regarding 2026 Budget Updates: EMS Chief Anderson went through the EMS budget and stated wages are still being negotiations. He stated that if the contract doesn’t get settled and goes above the estimate there is enough in fund balance. Anderson stated in this budget there are additional hours added for current PT staff to add more staffing at peak times that is needed. Lamers talked about the levy limit and with the drop in the City portion, with the new calculation of cost, he thought that we have to take a reduction in levy. No capital requested for 2026. Fire Chief Machotka went though his budget and started to discuss wages. Lamers reminded the Committee that these budgets have a 3% COLA added which will change once the Compensation Plan is approved for non-represented employees and we are also waiting for the health insurance rates which has an estimated 5% increase in the budgets. Lamers stated that currently the contract negotiations for represented are at 8% for 2026. Lamers stated the budget will have to be changed as an estimate in wages. Machotka talked about the intern program and stated he changed the amount in the budget from $300 a month to $400 a month. He then went though some of the changes to the operational budget and explained the changes in amounts. Chief Machotka then went through the Capital budget. Discussion took place regarding the request for three new Lieutenants. Helmke requested that more information be provided as to the need for three and a long-range plan for staffing at the Fire Department. www.ci.verona.wi.us Communication Manager Trusty went thought the Cable budget (BTRB) and discussed the conference equipment in the budget for the small conference room at City Hall, the Senior Center and the Public Works conference rooms. She also explained the additional cost to Civic Plus with improving the website for accessibility for disabilities that will be required in 2027. Trusty then discussed the request for the intern for the summer and the cost. Lamers went through the Buildings and Grounds budget and stated there was an increase of $2,620 to contractual services for landscaping and cleaning. Lamers discussed the Administration budget and stated part of the increase in wages is for Election workers went from $21,000 to $40,500 with going from 2 elections to 4 elections. That also explains the election portion of the budget increase by approximately $5,800. There was an increase in Other Contracted Services, which includes $55,000 for a position needs study that is being requested. Discussion took place on the need for the position needs study and the cost and will be discussed in the future when we know where the budget stands. Lamers stated there is an increase in travel, meals and training due to additional staff in the department. Aulik discussed the request for an Administration Intern that is being requested. Lamers went through the Council Budget and stated there increase currently is $19,431 and the majority is for increase and legal cost. Lamers stated that there is a 3% COLA added for Alders and the Mayor in the budget since they were not part of the compensation plan being implemented. Lamers stated we received the increase to the League of Municipalities, but we have not gotten the Dane County Cities and Villages membership costs. Lamers stated there was a late request for the Scrap Stop Program for $6,700. Mayor Diaz request to increase the Badger Prairie Needs Network from $30,000 to $40,000. As far as capital there was a request to increase Solar from $5,000 to $60,000 and there is a request for $7,000 for stackable chairs in the Council Chambers. Discussion and Possible Action regarding recommending approval to the Common Council the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA/LEER) and the City of Verona regarding additional pay for the School Resource Officer: Motion was made by Helmke, seconded by Harrison to recommend to the Common Council the Memorandum of Understanding between the WPPA/LEER and City of Verona regarding additional pay for the School Resource Officer. Motion carried 3-0. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the payment of bills: Motion was made by Lytle, seconded by Helmke to approve the payment of bills totaling $889,364.30. Motion carried 3-0. Adjournment: Motion was made by Helmke, seconded by Harrison to adjourn the Finance Committee Meeting at 6:34 p.m. Motion carried 3-0. Respectfully submitted, Brian Lamers CPA Finance Director www.ci.verona.wi.us