Mukwonago trustees review $7.7 million draft capital plan, weigh borrowing choices

Finance Director Kelly Groff told trustees at a Sept. 2 workshop that the draft 2027 capital improvement plan currently totals about $7,700,000 and asked the board to consider trimming projects to limit borrowing.

"Right now we're totaling around 7,700,000," Groff said, adding that the village aims to keep the overall number down and would model different borrowing scenarios for the board. She said the draft excludes utility borrowing and that staff would return with analysis of how changes would affect the debt levy and payment schedules.

Trustees questioned which items were carryovers and which were new, and several urged prioritizing projects that address safety or have near-term operating implications. Board members suggested moving some park and noncritical items into later years to keep 2027 borrowing nearer to the village's historical levels. Groff said staff will run parallel scenarios showing the cost of borrowing $4.2 million (the number currently projected for village borrowing) and higher alternatives.

The board did not take formal votes at the workshop; members agreed to finalize the capital plan after staff returns with revised numbers and a clearer schedule for the library borrowing and other carryovers.