# Watertown Finance Committee Meeting - Special | October 19, 2026

The Watertown Finance Committee’s special meeting on October 19, 2026, addressed the 2027 budget and related financial actions. The committee approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Lake Mills for Watertown Media Services, described as a cleanup agreement for work that has ended. It also recommended exemptions from Dodge and Jefferson County library taxes, noting required support of approximately $213,000 and $383,372, respectively, against a $750,000 library budget. The committee approved closing TID 4 and the Riverfest fund. A $25,000 increase to the library appropriation, bringing it to $775,000, passed; an amendment to increase it by $35,000 failed. The remaining $94,209 under the estimated expenditure restraint limit was committed to contingency.

The committee reviewed 2027 budget changes, including advancing water and wastewater equipment costs, increasing election supplies from $18,000 to $20,000, adding $50,000 for Riverside Park electrical work (to a total of $100,000), and restoring $5,000 for airport terminal renovations. It discussed adding a patrol officer at an estimated annual cost of $113,000, as well as using existing Fund 5 balances for capital needs to reduce borrowing. After considering capital projects and fund balances, staff recommended borrowing approximately $7.73 million; members discussed the resulting projected 24.3% fund balance. The amended 2027 budget was approved and forwarded to the City Council for adoption.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Public Safety
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 19, 2026

### Sources
- [Watertown Finance Committee Meeting - Special | October 19, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-xoz-tVPbs) - The City of Watertown