Eagle River proposing 6.8% mill rate increase

To cover costs associated with infrastructure and other things like debt management, the City of Eagle River is proposing a 6.8% increase in the mill rate which will moderately raise taxes.

The mill rate is proposed to increase from $0.00618852 per $1,000 of valuation in 2024 to $0.00660927 in 2025 (paid in 2026). This 6.8% rise is primarily due to a substantial increase in the overall tax levy, which grows from $1.88 million to $2.03 million across all city funds.

However, the General Fund’s direct reliance on property taxes is projected to be nearly flat, increasing by 1.03% to $1,036,429.

The single largest spending increase in the General Fund is Public Works, going up by 13.6%. There also is a notable increase to support local health initiatives and community needs through the Health and Human Services, rising by 7.67%. Public Safety remains the city’s single largest expense, but in the 2026 budget it is seeing an 8.26% decrease from 2025.

To help cover costs and moderate the overall tax impact, the city is making a one-time draw from its savings, or “Fund Balance.”

The public is invited to review the budget and provide feedback Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Electronic and telephone access is available via the link posted on the city’s website at eagleriverwi.gov. The full budget document is available for inspection at the city administrator’s office during business hours.