by Joseph Back

“We hear it all the time,” village clerk Sandi Isaacs said. “‘When are you going to do something about the roads?’” Then she clarified.

“We don’t have the money ,” Isaacs said. With two blocks of East Patten in front of the church estimated at $400,000—meaning 72.7 percent of the annual village budget— the prospect of doing so without state aid, isn’t feasible.

To that end, and in view of the fact that current state roads aid of $30,000 is insuvcient to meet needs, the prospect of an additional $5 per $1,000 in property value for village residents could hit the ballot in November, pending a special meeting August 23 and end of August deadline to make the ballot.

The current levy rate is $6 per $1,000, while the proposed levy increase would ostensibly make this $11 per $1000. Funds raised from the increase would be used to help fund police, roads, and ongoing maintenance costs, with village machinery like the street sweeper taking the wear and tear of operation, eventually needing replacement.

Without the levy increase the village would receive just $841 more in taxes for the entire village in the coming year—not quite enough to do road and other maintenance.

The reason for choosing November, meanwhile, is turnout. With the governor’s race on the ballot, hope was expressed that more would come to the polls, while one thought the referendum was enough.

“I think with that you’re still going to get them to come out,” Tom Grunewald said of a prospective tax increase.

A need for road repairs and other municipal funding needs at Boyd could see voters head to the polls for a levy limit referendum this fall. Photo by Joseph Back.