Minutes_2027-Initial-Budget-Meeting_20260805

Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Special Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 5, 2026 — Page 11 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 5, 2026 • 10:00 AM • Winchester Town Hall 2027 Initial Budget Work Session Members Present Nicholas Newton (Chairperson), Robert Silvis (Supervisor, virtual), Danny Dye (Supervisor), Luke Huybrecht (Clerk), John Grimmer (Treasurer) Members Absent None 1. Call to Order Chairperson Newton called the meeting to order at 10:04 AM. Motion: To call the meeting to order. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 2. 2026 Budget vs. Year-to-Date The Board reviewed the 2026 budget against year-to-date figures. The town is in good standing. 3. 2025 Budget Actual The Board reviewed the 2025 budget actual figures using the budget worksheet. 4. 2027 Revenue Projections Revenue projections for 2027 were reviewed using the budget worksheet. 5. 2027 Levy Limit Ideally the levy would remain the same as 2026 to avoid needing to request voter approval. The budget must be completed first to determine the levy. 6. 2027 Known Expenditure Changes The Board discussed anticipated expenditure changes for 2027, including an increased assessor contract (estimated $25,000–$50,000) and a combined clerk/treasurer position with a required audit (estimated $75,000, approximately a $40,000 increase). 7. Capital Needs and Large Purchases The Board discussed capital needs for 2027: $10,000–$15,000 for a used skid steer with two attachments for the transfer station, a snow plow belly blade, and road work. The 2026 road project was West Birch Lake; the 2027 project should be the remaining 1.8 miles of East Birch Lake at approximately $400,000. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Special Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 5, 2026 — Page 12 8. Board Priorities Previous board priorities were reviewed: spend down reserves, fix things, and fix roads. New board priorities discussed: potentially constructing a new town hall building with a library (works well with EMS grant timing), facilitating and maintaining an EMS location in Winchester, selling the ambulance (valued at approximately $300,000), not exceeding the levy limit, hiring a town administrator ($50,000 shared or $100,000 not shared), snow plow maintenance, road maintenance, and clerk compensation increase with treasurer combination and audit. 9. Budget Calendar and Next Steps The Board established the following budget meeting schedule: September 1, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM special board budget meeting; September 9, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM special board budget meeting; October 6, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM special board budget meeting; November 16, 6:00 PM annual budget/elector meeting. Adjournment Meeting adjourned. Luke Huybrecht, Town Clerk Date Submitted: August 17, 2026