Fitchburg WI Commission on Aging Well 11-12-26

The Fitchburg Commission on Aging Well met on November 12, 2026, and discussed the city’s 2027 budget and the reorganization of recreation, senior services, and Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative (H&I) functions. City officials described tight levy limits and said roughly $700,000 in net-new-construction revenue fell short of the approximately $1 million needed for annual employee cost-of-living and benefit increases. The 2027 budget includes a $600,000 allocation to H&I, which the mayor said would fund the initiative for at least five years. Other budget actions discussed included adding two full-time firefighters, reallocating funding toward a possible police officer or real-time information center, and converting a clerical float position to provide human-resources support. The city also created a budget and procurement specialist role to assist departments with procurement, including requests for proposals; no specific contract awards or bids were presented.

Officials described a planned city campus project that includes remodeling City Hall, making exterior improvements, and later renovating senior-center space; dining-room furnishings were also expected to be finalized, with delivery anticipated in six to eight weeks. Baker Tilly was conducting a further assessment of department operations and job duties, with a report expected in the coming weeks; no procurement decision related to that work was reported. Commissioners and officials discussed reviewing program participation and costs, potential changes to scholarship-fund rules, and the need to align services with available staffing and revenue. The commission approved its prior meeting minutes; no spending-related motion or vote was reported.