The City of Janesville is facing a deficit in the 2022 budget.
The city council held its first budget workshop of the year, with preliminary projections showing an over $600,000 shortfall.
City Manager Mark Freitag said Janesville saw a strong increase in equalized value and net new construction, but levy limits will keep the city from meeting the costs of inflation.
The most significant cost increase for next year is a two-percent cost of living adjustment for city employees, along with the addition of a fifth ambulance to meet an increased need for service from the fire department.
Freitag hopes they can encourage more participation from the public during this fall’s budget process as his staff tries to find ways to reduce costs or increase revenues to meet the deficit.
