The District 3 Dispatch | 2027 budget update; trick-or-treat hours
We’re now officially in the heart of city budget season. The mayor’s proposed budget was introduced last month, and alders have submitted amendments, which will be discussed at the next Committee of the Whole meeting on October 28. A final vote on the budget and amendments is scheduled for the November 10 council meeting.
In last month’s newsletter, I shared some of the main budget highlights, including additional police, fire, and EMS staffing. At the same time, the budget proposal included increases in city revenues, most notably a fee that would cover most of the costs of the city’s current and expanded forestry services. At Tuesday’s council meeting, we approved the creation of the forestry fee to hire a second full-time forester and pay for most of our city’s forestry services rather than funding them from property taxes. That allows us to use the property tax dollars previously spent on forestry for other needs, including the new public safety positions.
While I felt that voting in favor of the forestry fee was a necessary step to increase revenue and expand services in a department that is understaffed, I also heard loud and clear the concerns about affordability. In recognition of this, I have introduced a series of budget amendments to avoid increasing solid waste collection fees for single-family homes in 2027. This plan includes:
Reducing the number of brush pickups from 14 (7 each in the spring and fall) to 10 (5 each in the spring and fall), which would save just over $65,000.
Reducing advertising spending in the Public Works - Refuse budget by $4,000. This was money previously spent for advertising in the Fitchburg Star, which recently announced it was moving to an online-only model.
Increasing funding for fuel surcharges by $30,000. Because diesel fuel is so expensive, Pellitteri is charging the city a fuel surcharge. If fuel prices stay as high as they currently are, we will pay more than is currently in the budget proposal.
If the Common Council approves these amendments, we would be able to hold the 2027 residential unit solid waste collection rate flat at $236/year and avoid a $4/year increase. This would also leave enough money to add a second Food Scrap Stop location. In its first approximately 10 months, the first Food Scrap Stop location at Swan Creek Park has collected 16,645 pounds of food scraps from roughly 400 homes. Adding another location elsewhere in the city would help those impressive numbers grow while diverting waste from our landfills and supporting the city’s sustainability goals.
Taken together, these measures highlight what we do in every budget: balance adding and supporting existing city services while ensuring we are doing what we can to keep costs down.
Yours in service,
-Logan
What’s “Growing” On
Here’s what’s being built in Fitchburg.
It was a VERY busy week in Fitchburg, with three significant groundbreakings and two business ribbon cuttings!
The Cesta, a senior living community in Terravessa, marked the beginning of its construction phase with a ceremony on Monday. This community will be located in the city block between Lacy Road, Brassica Road, and Radicchio Drive.
The YMCA broke ground on its new 97,000 square-foot building at the corner of McKee Road and Spoke Drive (across from the AMC theater) on Tuesday morning. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2028.
Edgewood University broke ground on Thursday on its new athletics and wellness campus on McKee Road west of Seminole Highway.
The McDonald’s at 6335 Jamestown Way (across from Target) held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening on Tuesday.
The Chick-fil-A at 6319 Jamestown Way (also across from Target) held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday.
***
The closure of Lacy Road in Uptown mentioned in last month’s newsletter was taken off the calendar and will be rescheduled for an undetermined future date.
***
U.S. Signal is proposing an expansion of its existing data center on Nobel Drive. The company held a neighborhood meeting to introduce the concept to the community earlier this week. Plans are still in the works, and nothing has been officially submitted to the city for review at this point.
Given the significant conversations that are happening nationwide surrounding data centers, I want to share a few other details about what this proposal is (and, importantly, is NOT). This proposal is NOT a hyperscale AI data center -- it is in the ballpark of 1% of the size. The current data center is a colocation facility, which means it provides space to a number of smaller companies and governmental bodies rather than serving one or two massive companies. It has been in this spot for roughly 20 years now.
When it comes to those hyperscale AI data centers, Fitchburg is not set up to accommodate such a facility. Last month, I took a drive to both the Meta data center under construction in Beaver Dam and the similar hyperscale data center being built in Port Washington to get a sense of their scale, and something that large wouldn't fit in our community. The city has created a dedicated webpage with some additional resources and answers to common questions about data centers.
***
Working For You
Here’s how city staff and elected officials are working on your behalf to make Fitchburg a better place.
The City of Fitchburg has been awarded $1.69 million in federal funding for the Irish Lane reconstruction project!
This project will address the rough road conditions on Irish Lane between South Fish Hatchery Road and South Syene Road, as well as add paved bike lanes/shoulders along the entire 1.6-mile stretch.
Design work is scheduled for 2028, with construction planned in 2030.
***
The chill in the air means not only that fall is here but that it’s time to close park bathrooms and drinking fountains for the season. They will close after October 31 until the spring.
Council Recap
On October 13, we:
Approved updated concepts for the replacement Kids Crossing playground at McKee Farms Park and additional funding for the project. In response to significant community input, the concept now includes a zip line and more shaded areas.
Approved pay increases for alders, the mayor, and municipal judge. These rates had not been changed for decades.
Also at our October 13 meeting, Alder Micah LaDousa shared the results of the budget survey that was sent out earlier this year. Thank you again to everyone who completed it! If you’d like to learn more, check out the meeting recording.
On September 22, we:
Approved a certified survey map and rezone for the proposed duplex and townhome development at the corner of Lacy Road and Fahey Glen. Looking ahead, the developer will now need to submit more refined plans for consideration. We also required them to hold a neighborhood meeting before those refined plans are brought up for Common Council and Plan Commission review and approval.
Approved a revised final plat for the Syncopation development proposed along Highway MM and a rezone for a senior living community planned in that neighborhood.
Approved a final plat to allow for 16 townhomes to be built in Terravessa.
Approved a 5% stormwater utility rate increase beginning in 2027.
Looking Ahead
On October 27, the Common Council will:
Consider a final plat for 25 single-family lots along Notre Dame Drive at Quarry Hill Drive.
Consider an amendment to the 2026 budget to support the creation of a Real-Time Information Center for the police department. As proposed, this would bring a variety of existing policing tools and platforms together onto a “single pane of glass.” Other tools, such as drones that respond to 911 calls and automated license plate readers (ALPRs), could be included. This project would be partially supported by grants and private fundraising.
Get Involved
The city’s recommended trick-or-treat hours are 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. If you’re out with your little ghouls and goblins, keep an eye out for our Fitchburg police officers, who will be handing out glow sticks during that time as they make their rounds through the community.
***
In-person absentee voting for the November 3 general election begins on Tuesday, October 20.
All in-person absentee voting happens at the Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Rd., regardless of your usual polling place. Hours are as follows:
Tuesday, October 20 – Friday, October 23
8 a.m. – 5 p.m
Saturday, October 24
8 a.m. – noon
Monday, October 26 – Thursday, October 29
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Last Day – Friday, October 30
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
***
Swan Creek’s Halloween block party is back! Ninebark at the Moon returns to the 5100 block of Ninebark Drive on Saturday, October 24, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
***
Help us name two parks in the Terravessa neighborhood!
The city is looking for input and suggested names for two parks: One currently known as the South Terravessa park (2788 Frisee Drive) and one yet-to-be-developed park at 4783 Romaine Road.
Submit a name suggestion on the city's website by 4 p.m. on November 27. The Parks Commission and Common Council will review them and likely vote to approve names in early December.
P.S. Before anyone comments "Parky McParkFace," that name doesn't meet our naming criteria and will be rejected.
***
The city is kicking off the 2050 Comprehensive Plan process in earnest next week! Our comprehensive plan is the document that shapes where, when, and how our city grows for years to come.
If you’d like to help shape the future of Fitchburg, consider attending an open house on Wednesday, October 21, from 5-7 p.m. at Hosto Hoci (2220 Traceway Dr.). Can’t make it? Sign up for updates via the city’s website and stay tuned for future engagement opportunities
***
The city’s fall electronics recycling and paper shredding event has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 24 from 8-11 a.m.
***
Night markets have arrived at The Rusty Bee Lounge! Mark your calendars for the following dates:
October 22
***
Fitchburg Farmers’ Market at Agora is nearly done for the season. The last market will be from 3-6 p.m. on October 29.
***
Mark your calendar for the upcoming District 3 Listening Session with me, Mayor Arata-Fratta, and Alder Dantzler, Jr.
October 29, 2026
6-8 p.m.
Fire Station 3, 2950 S. Syene Rd.
