Fitchburg Finance Committee Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Fitchburg Finance Committee met on May 12, 2026, to review financial reports, discuss the city’s ARPA fund closure, review detailed bills and purchase orders, and act on two resolutions: amending the budget for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and approving a contract for an AMI water meter software upgrade. The meeting was chaired by Alder Gerhardt.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the April 28, 2026 meeting. Motion by Alder Gerhardt, carried by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public appeared in person or on Zoom.

Discussion Items

Finance Director Report

• The Finance Director reported that all ARPA grant proceeds have been spent as of March 31, 2026; interest earned remains and will be spent on road projects in qualified census tracts this year. A previous month’s 37% salary figure was clarified as a percentage of total expenditures, not of budget. The annual joint review board meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026, with a second meeting on June 24, 2026. A water rate case is being filed; the 2025 rate of return was 3.8% against a target of 6.2%, justifying a request for an approximate 3% across-the-board increase. Rate adjustments for other utilities are also under consideration.

Review of Bills

• Detailed Review of Checks $10,000+ (April 1–30, 2026): Total $2,260,787.26. Staff will now present this report monthly instead of for each meeting. One check to the City of Madison ($20,000) for street lighting and traffic signals was overdue invoices from 2025; Public Works has implemented reminders to avoid future delays.
• Detailed Review of All Checks (April 16–30, 2026): Checks 130541–130593, total $1,463,255.27. No questions.
• Detailed Review of All ACH Payments (April 1–30, 2026): Total $771,565.27. No questions.
• Detailed Review of Open Purchase Orders (as of April 30, 2026): Staff provided a list of all open POs sorted by vendor. Alders noted several items, including an open PO for Allison Brunette (full amount still open – explained as line-by-line), a PO for Bradford Systems (likely lockers for the police facility), a 2022 Strand Associates solar analysis for Lift Station and water facility, and a 2017-2018 Wisconsin DOT Verona Road utility improvement PO (explained as common for late DOT invoices). The committee agreed to receive this report quarterly rather than monthly, citing that the bulk of the list remains unchanged month-to-month.

Resolution R9726 – Amending TID #10 and Capital Projects Fund Budgets for Bus Rapid Transit

• Ross (staff) presented the need for an additional $4.2 million in local funding for Fitchburg’s share of the North-South BRT project. Total project cost: ~$170 million; Fitchburg’s portion: ~$17 million. Federal share reduced from 80% to 70%, and updated construction estimates based on East-West BRT costs increased Fitchburg’s required local share from the previously allocated $1.5 million to $5.7 million. The resolution authorizes borrowing the full amount; however, approval from the joint review board is needed to fund the $1.75 million portion within the TID’s half-mile zone. The risk workshop (May 19–21, 2026) requires local funding in place; the Finance Director noted that borrowing authority granted by this resolution would satisfy FTA concerns even if the joint review board has not yet acted. Alderman Bill questioned finance charges (17% for Fitchburg vs. 10% of overall project) – staff to follow up. Design changes from center-running to side-running stations on Fish Hatchery Road saved $8 million. The TID is healthy enough to support borrowing and payoff over time.

Resolution R10526 – Contract for AMI Meter Software Upgrade

• Staff explained that the current AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) software is being sunset and the upgrade to a new version will cost approximately the same or less per year. Total 10-year contract value: $326,000 for both water and sewer. Alderman Bill raised privacy concerns about the software provider Xylem’s privacy policy, which states it may disclose personal information to affiliates and social media. Staff clarified that usage data is tied to parcels, not individuals, and the contract defines customer data solely as usage data from field devices. The 2026 charge will be prorated since the upgrade begins mid-year. The committee noted that the cost is more economical than employing a meter reader.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved (unanimous).
• Resolution R9726 passed by voice vote (all ayes). Authorizes borrowing $4.2 million for BRT local share pending joint review board approval for the TID half-mile portion.
• Resolution R10526 passed by voice vote (all ayes). Approves a 10-year contract for AMI software upgrade not to exceed $326,000.
• Review of Bills: All disbursements approved as presented.
• Open Purchase Orders: Future reports to be provided quarterly.
• Next meeting scheduled for May 26, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.