Rib Lake budget looking rosy

The village of Rib Lake is on pace to finish the year over budget on income and under budget on expenses.

At the December 11 village board meeting, village president Bill Schreiner reported that with 91% of the year done, the village expenses are at 86% for the year with public safety at 80% and public works at 80%.

“We did spend quite a bit more on parks and rec, but it was money that was well spent,” Schreiner said.

The report came before the village formally adopted the resolution to set the levy for the property tax bills.

Schreiner noted the village is only 20% of the total local property tax bills.

Painting

Board members approved a bid of just over $2,000 to have the village hall boardroom and hallway area repainted.

The historical pictures that are on the walls currently will be taken down and put back up after the painting project is done. The village has not repainted the building since moving the village hall to the former elementary school 25 years ago.

The plan is to go with a slightly different color to better match the recently replaced carpeting in the hallway of the building.

In other business, board members:

• Approved an advertising contract with Discover Wisconsin. The production company is looking to do a piece on Rib Lake as an Ice Age Trail community. The village is looking at this as a way to promote tourism to the community. There is a total cost of $15,000 with the Rib Lake Lions committing $2,500 and other fundraising efforts underway. Taylor County Tourism has also committed $2,000 to the project. The program will likely air in 2026 and the village’s contribution could be paid over more than one year. “You made this decision a lot easier,” Schreiner said of the flexibility in when it needs to be paid for.

• Approved donating $100 for the prize for the Friends of Rib Lake Christmas Decorating contest. This is the same amount as the village contributed last year and will come from money budgeted for tourism. People can view and vote on the decorations on the Friends of Rib Lake Facebook page.

• Approved setting the annual employee holiday bonuses with an increase of $5 in the amount from what was given in 2023.

• Approved the annual picnic license for Rib Lake Fish and Game for the ice fishing contest in January. It was noted that there has been significant ice fishing activity on Rib Lake in the past week.