Lake Tomahawk board approves 2024 budget

Lake Tomahawk town electors last week approved a property tax levy of $798,107 for 2024.

“I want to point something out,” town chairman George DeMet said at the beginning of the budget hearing conducted before the special meeting of town electors. “We had a reassessment this year and a lot of people are under the impression that it’s gonna increase the taxes.”

Before he went through the budget paperwork which showed relatively little change from last year, he referred to the budget summary prepared for the hearing, pointing out the tax levy of $798,107 from last year. 

“For 2024, it’s exactly the same number,” DeMet said. “The increase in your assessment does not affect the amount of tax that we collect, OK? So, let’s clear up that myth right off the bat.”

Among the items he called attention to was an increase in state shared revenue from $12,332 last year to $61,485 for 2024. 

“So, that’s a good thing,” DeMet said.

He also noted that the town is “whittling down that debt” on a fire truck purchased almost 10 years ago, making a double payment on the vehicle possible again in 2024. 

“We’ll be able to pay it off,” DeMet said. “Which is cool.”

The vote to approve the tax levy and 2024 budget was unanimous. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].