Finance Committee Meeting 10-13-2026 - 5 PM

The City of Franklin, Wisconsin Finance Committee continued its review of the 2027 budget on October 13, 2026. Sewer utility capital needs featured prominently: members discussed a $960,000 St. Martin’s lift-station upgrade, including a third pump and replacement of obsolete controls; a $200,000 trenchless sewer-lining project; and a sewer-cleaning vehicle estimated at $766,000, planned for 2030 rather than 2027. The committee recommended the lift-station project and approved related budget-accounting adjustments, including a $1.18 million reduction to capitalized-asset expense and a recommendation to set depreciation expense at $400,000. Members also discussed increased sewer costs, including a proposed $130,000 support allocation related to MMSD hazardous-waste collection. No vendor selection or contract award was made.

The committee reviewed projected debt and other 2027 budget changes. Staff described approximately $8.9 million in planned borrowing for city capital projects and equipment, plus a little over $1 million for water. The committee recommended removing a separate $1 million TID 9 borrowing from the budget, with an internal advance discussed as an alternative. Other recommendations included restoring $350,000 for the Ken Windle pavilion project, adding $22,000 for senior travel and $12,000 for a senior-program lunch, and budget adjustments for workers’ compensation and ambulance revenue. These were committee recommendations for Common Council consideration, not final budget approvals; the proposed tax levy and borrowing outlook were also discussed.