FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2025
Media Contact:
Mueller Communications
(414) 390-5500
cottagegrove@muellercommunications.com
COTTAGE GROVE, WIS. – This week, the Village of Cottage Grove Board voted in favor of placing a referendum question on the April 1, 2025 ballot. Residents will be asked whether or not to support an increase in the Village’s annual tax levy to cover the cost of constructing and operating the Village’s first public library.
The proposed location of the Library is 312 West Cottage Grove Road (the former Learning Ladder daycare center, which closed this summer). The Village has not purchased the former Learning Ladder site, but has an option to purchase which can be exercised if the referendum is approved.
“The Village of Cottage Grove encourages voters to learn about how this public library referendum would impact the community,” said Matt Giese, Village Administrator. “We’re committed to providing fact-based, neutral information to help educate voters, all of which will be available on the Village’s website. We look forward to hearing feedback from the community throughout this process – and ultimately receiving the community’s collective decision via the referendum vote.”
If residents approve the referendum, the Village would be authorized to increase the tax levy in 2026 —and every year going forward — by $1,300,000 per year to fund the capital and operational costs associated with establishing a public library service. The Village has forecasted the first five years of anticipated tax impacts of the service per $100,000 of equalized/market property value as follows: $116 for 2026; $92 for 2027; $88 for 2028; $83 for 2029; and $79 for 2030. The detail of such projections are available on page 23 of the Village’s updated Financial Management Plan.
If the referendum is approved and this project moves forward, the actual tax impact of this project may be less than these projections, depending on the outcome of a capital campaign and potential grants that may offset some of the project costs. Village taxpayers will also realize a reduction in the Dane County portion of their taxes beginning a few years after the commencement of this project when Dane County eliminates or reduces a tax imposed on Village property that is currently used to support other area libraries.
The referendum question will appear on the Tuesday, April 1, 2025 ballot as follows:
“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Cottage Grove for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2026, is limited to 4.355%, which results in a levy of $7,062,581. Shall the Village of Cottage Grove be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2026, for the purpose of constructing and operating a library at 312 W Cottage Grove Road, Cottage Grove, WI 53527, by a total of 18.407%, which results in a levy of $8,362,581, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $1,300,000 for each fiscal year going forward?”
Official information regarding the referendum will be shared via the Village of Cottage Grove’s website in the coming weeks. Residents can also ask questions by emailing the Village.