Town looks to preserve services, tax rate

Since publishing notice of a petition to incorporate portions of the Towns of Brookfield and Waukesha into a village, organizer Jay Walt has cited protection of the Town of Brookfield's low tax rate and municipal services as a driving force.

On Tuesday, supervisors of the Brookfield Town Board took steps to continue providing those municipal services to areas of the Town of Brookfield that aren't included in the petition.

"The incorporation simply can't include the area along Capitol Drive. That's been resolved in a prior incorporation proceeding," said Jim Hammes, town attorney. "One of the issues when this gets to the Department of Administration that needs to be addressed is what impact (the incorporation) will have on the remaining portions of the town."

Option for police, fire

The incorporation petition excludes properties that aren't contiguous to the rest of the town - including areas around the Capitol Airport and the site of the former Silver Spur restaurant on West Greenfield Avenue.

Those properties would continue to operate as part of the town if the annexation petition is approved. Its residents could choose to contract with the new village to provide municipal services - including police, fire and public works - for no more than 95 percent of the remnant properties' 2012 tax levy, according to the resolution.

Hammes said 95 percent of tax revenue would translate to approximately $90,000. The remaining 5 percent would be used to fund administrative functions of the town: maintaining a town board, publishing meeting notices and holding an annual meeting.

Border agreements

Another resolution supervisors approved Tuesday declares the Town of Brookfield's willingness to enter into border agreements with adjoining municipalities to transfer the remnant parcels to the municipality, if the property owners so choose.

The city previously approved a resolution indicating its willingness to annex the entire Town of Brookfield when incorporation plans surfaced.

In addition to current Town of Brookfield land, the petition includes about 288 acres of Town of Waukesha land off Highways 164 and 59, including the site of the former Walmart and former Don Jacobs car dealership.

Hammes said the town will schedule meetings with remnant property owners in January.

The next step

WHAT: Waukesha County Circuit Judge Donald Hassin Jr. review on the Town of Brookfield incorporation petition

WHERE: Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 W. Moreland Blvd.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Jan. 12