Town of Mukwonago-  Take a close look at the upcoming budget for the Town of Mukwonago and you might be surprised to find that residents may be asked to pay twice for garbage pickup services. 

Funding the snowy winter and looking into solutions for the Country Bliss flooding problems dipped into the Town's reserve fund.  In order to build the reserve fund back up, board members have proposed to keep the approximately $450,000 for garbage pickup on the budget and put that money back into the reserve fund.  Since that money will not go toward garbage collection, residents will be charged a $154 fee.

The board already decided to raise taxes by the allotted 2%.  Add that to reassessments, a $154 service charge and the worsening economy, and many residents may be feeling the pressure.

The board will make its final decision at the Nov. 20 budget hearing at 7 p.m.

The Village Board will finalize its 2009 budget tonight and, possibly, tomorrow, if village trustees need the extra time. All options point to a budget that will increase no more than 3 percent, the goal set by the board earlier this year.

Village Administrator Evan Teich said the stringent limitation will come at a cost down the road, including putting off the village's long-term goals.