The New Glarus Village Board approved a series of measures Wednesday, including the admission of portions of the towns of York and Perry to the Sugar River EMS District, two downtown façade grants, public Wi-Fi rules and a special event permit for Christkindli Market.

The meeting also included the first of two workshops on the 2027 village budget, where officials reviewed a stronger property-tax outlook, rising debt service costs and a proposal to create a new urban forestry fee to shift tree-related expenses out of the general fund.

Village Administrator Kelsey Jenson reported that the 2026 general fund is currently projected to finish with a $50,727 surplus. Revenues are projected at $2.05 million, about $59,000 above budget, while expenses are projected at nearly $2 million, about $42,000 over budget. The 2027 general fund draft is balanced at $2.045 million but relies on $36,835 of projected surplus funds.

The village also has more room under state levy limits than it did a year ago. Net new construction reached 3.06%, the highest level cited in recent village history, while the closure of Tax Incremental District No. 3 adds additional levy capacity. Together, those factors increase the allowable levy by $77,376 before debt-service adjustments.