At a joint public hearing on October 20, 2015, the Somers Village Board of Trustees and the Somers Town Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a new Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement which fulfills promises made to citizens during the incorporation process. The promises relate to annexation and property taxes.
SOMERS VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AND SOMERS TOWN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Left to Right: Mark Molinaro (Town), Alan Ferber (Town), Ben Harbach (Town), Joe Cardinali (Village), George Stoner (Village), Jack Apperle (Village), Judy Schantek (Town), Dave Geertsen (Village), Al Brokmeier (Village), Karl Ostby (Village), and Rich Heinisch (Village)
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)
What does this mean to the citizens of Somers?
(1) The Agreement will annex ALL the remaining Town property into the Village on December 31, 2015, with the exception of the Town “B” area, which annexes into the City of Kenosha in 2035 per a boundary agreement. Borders will be permanently protected from forced annexation from bordering municipalities. Equally as important, when the 2035 boundary agreement with the City of Kenosha expires, Somers residents will not be required to negotiate and pay for a new boundary agreement.
(2) All residents, Village and Town “B” area, will pay the same tax rate. This Agreement eliminates a “we” and “they” budget where the Village would pay a different rate than the Town. Under this Agreement, Somers will operate in unity as one community.
(3) All residents, Village and Town “B” area, will continue to receive the same delivery of municipal services, without interruption, and without the doubling of staff or creating extra layers of government administration.
(4) Property owners in the remaining Town who will annex into the Village will be brought in a larger, stronger financial Village municipality than if they remained a Town. All new commercial and industrial development, together with the benefits of increased revenue that reduces the stress of rising expenses, have occurred in the Village. Lacking development in the Town would mean the existing taxpayers could face increased expenses making it difficult to keep taxes in check.
GEORGE STONER, VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND BEN HARBACH, TOWN CHAIRMAN SIGN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2015 AFTER A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY BOTH TOWN AND VILLAGE BOARDS
(Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)
Any taxpayer who has questions about how this Agreement impacts them personally are encouraged to contact any Town or Village Board member, or Bill Morris, Village/Town Administrator at 262-859-2822.