October 2024 - Ehlers, Inc.

The ABC’s of CIP’s

Planning for capital improvements is a crucial exercise for local governments. You need to ensure that your assets are in good working order and safe condition. Countless articles have been written about the importance of capital planning – the need for public input, expensive engineering studies, and special software packages. It can be daunting. Where do you begin?

It’s Levy Limit Time in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin levy limit worksheets are due to the WI DOR by December 15, 2024. Prior to developing budgetary goals and objectives, it is important to understand what constraints your projected allowable levy poses. In this article we offer a detailed overview of the base increase to the allowable levy, debt service adjustments, carryover, and covered services adjustments.

Read on.

Budgets & Tax Levies in Minnesota

We are right in the heart of tax levy season so once again, it’s time to cover the basics of the budget and levy process, delve into some of the finer details of levy mechanics, and provide some best practices for maintaining healthy finances. While we specifically mention “cities” in our narrative, this information also applies to counties, school districts, and other taxing jurisdictions.

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Market Commentary: October 2024

CME’s FedWatch Tool is currently pricing in a 91% chance of a 25-basis point cut at the Fed’s next meeting in November and a 71% chance of another 25-basis point cut at their meeting in December. If these future cuts come to fruition, we could be looking at a federal funds rate that is a full 1.00% lower than where we started the year. It’s fair to state that as recently as twelve months ago the “market” anticipated a much more aggressive rate-cutting cycle over the course of this calendar year.

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Straddling THREE Fiscal Years!

Fall is an interesting time of year for school business officials. In addition to staff and students being back in the buildings, all asking questions and for you to put out fires, you are in the middle of an intense mental load with crucial tasks coming due all at once. You have to close out fiscal year 2024 and prep for your audit, analyze your enrollment for the fall and budget estimates for fiscal year 2025, and then you get the MDE email from that the levy information system is open! Welcome to fiscal year 2026!

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No Texting: Ehlers’ Electronic Communication Policy

As a regulated entity under both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), Ehlers is bound by specific rules relative to recordkeeping for all business-related written communications between our employees and client contacts. Given the increased scrutiny the SEC is placing on the use of off-channel communications, we’d like to reiterate our Electronic Communication Policy. Please take a moment to read.

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Have questions or need more info?

Call 800-222-4545 or e-mail info@ehlers.com.

About Ehlers

A pioneer and regional leader in municipal advisory services since 1955, Ehlers helps clients build strong, vibrant and sustainable communities by delivering independent, integrated advice across all areas of public finance. We work with more than 1,500 local governments, schools, and public agencies across five states; placing our clients’ needs and best interests at the center of everything we do.