Fontana Wisconsin’s new budget has a proposed tax rate of $2.08 per $1,000 of assessed value, as reported in a recent article of Lake Geneva Regional News online.  This decrease is based on the village’s recent reassessments which revealed that the average property value increased by more than 40 percent.  This proposed tax rate is 78 cents less than last year’s and would mean that a $270,000 home assessment would make the homeowner responsible to pay $561.60 for the village’s portion of their tax bill.
It was also reported that the total expenditures in the budget saw a ‘minimal’ increase.  For more information on proposed changes in the Fontana Budget, visit Lake Geneva Regional News.

For more information on real estate in Fontana Wisconsin contact your local realtor Bob Webster via email or by phone at (262) 348-3233 or 800-364-7579.

A recent lakefront survey will have village officials taking a good look at the results this month.  Fontana WI residents and property owners were recently mailed a survey intended to give input to the village on what residents may like to see happen with lakefront property that is presently being leased to the Lake Geneva Marine Company.  However, this 18 question survey provided officials with somewhat mixed results that will need to be carefully looked over.  

One of the issues that would need voter approval through referendum dealt with the removal of a current building and replacing it with a ‘single-structure multi use building;’ the results of the survey indicated that this likely would not pass.  But the survey was also given out to learn more opinions as related to demographics and has been a valuable study for village officials; more results are expected to be presented at the Blue Ribbon Committees October 23 meeting this week.

For more than a year now, Walworth and Fontana WI have been considering sharing emergency services, including discussion on the creation of a paid-on-premises plan.  This week, Walworth Emergency Service Director, Chris Severt, presented a plan that would cover services for both villages.  The plan proposed three full-time positions that would cover the much needed 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift, with two full-time employees and the third position filled by a few rotating part time employees.

This plan is believed to decrease current response times in cases of emergency and the cost to the villages would be based on call volume.  The employees that would be hired would also have other duties including conducting fire safety inspections, maintain equipment, and present training exercises for businesses.

Although, the village of Fontana Wisconsin is taking some heat from local homeowners on the current home assessments, the second-home market has remained strong in the area.  In a recent interview with the Lake Geneva Regional News, local real estate agent Bob Webster indicated that Fontana’s second-home market has still been doing well despite national media perceptions.  And with national reports showing unfavorable conditions, this is great news for those that are looking for a second home for enjoying the gorgeous country and lake setting away from nearby Chicago.

So, if you are looking for a second home in the beautiful Fontana or Lake Geneva Wisconsin area, don’t hesitate to give Bob Webster a call at (262) 348-3233 or email him your questions.

Fontana and Walworth Wisconsin may see paid-on-premises fire and rescue services in the near future, according to a recent article from Lake Geneva News online.  The Ad Hoc Joint Services Committee is requesting that each Village Board seriously consider creating a joint paid-on-premises plan for services, which will be discussed in their scheduled October meetings; there will also be a joint meeting on October 13th where Fontana and Walworth’s village boards will meet with Walworth’s Town Board(the town of Walworth board is also included as they contract these services from the village of Walworth).  At this joint meeting, the two fire departments will make their proposal for staffing to cover the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift from Monday to Friday when most volunteers are working along with a few other proposals for other possible jobs and joint budgeting.

For more information on the paid-on-premises fire and rescue services in Fontana and Walworth Wisconsin visit lakegenevanews.net.  

For more information on available homes in Fontana or Walworth Wisconsin contact local agent Bob Webster via email or by phone at (262) 348-3233.

This lovely Fontana Wisconsin 3 bedroom and 2 bath home is just six doors down from the gorgeous, relaxing Geneva Lake.  Feel free to save on energy costs and stroll to the lake and enjoyable lake front association park.  Highlights include a unique wraparound porch facing Geneva Lake with fabulous lake views, newer mechanicals, and beautiful kitchen and baths.  New price for this classy Fontana Wisconsin home is $675,000.

For more information on this or other lakefront and lake rights properties in the Lake Geneva WI area contact local agent Bob Webster via email or by phone at (262) 348-3233.

Home assessments in Fontana Wisconsin have increased by 45 percent this year, according to a recent article from the Lake Geneva Regional News online. Accurate Appraisal, the village’s appraiser, did the assessments based on the actual market sales in 2006 and 2007.

The new assessments were done in order to comply with Wisconsin’s state law which requires home assessments to be up to date with the changing times. The last time Fontana reassessed all of the property in the village was in 2005 and home sales since then have been significantly higher than their assessed values. Consequently, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue reviewed the situation in fall of 2006 and found that the residential property values were assessed at 86 percent of the equalized value; in order to comply with state law, the village needs to be within 90 percent of its assessed value.

But some Fontana residents have been worried that this will definitely mean an increase in their property taxes as well. Village Administrator, Kelly Hayden, has been answering to these questions and concerns, reporting to Lake Geneva Regional News that the increase was not ‘directly fixed to the tax bill,’ but if a person’s home assessment is below the average, then they will see a tax bill decrease; those that saw a 45 percent increase should not see a tax change, but those that experienced more than this percent would likely see one.

 image credit: sxc.hu

Fontana Wisconsin’s lakefront zoning ordinance is undergoing a few minor changes due to feedback from Lakefront property owners. The original plan for this RS-1 zoning ordinance changes included changing density and lot width requirements, and how a caretaker’s unit would be defined; however, when Fontana lakefront property owners criticized these changes, the village decided to take another look at possible changes. 

The village is currently discussing removing the term “caretaker’s unit” and replacing it with “accessory living quarters.” Formerly, a ‘caretaker’s unit’ prohibited anyone but those employed to the property owner from living there; with the replacement of the term to “accessory living quarter” there would be no definition as to who could live on site. Concerns with this proposal include a possible second layer of homes emerging on the lakefront and difficulty with rental units.

For more information on possible changes to the Lakefront zoning ordinance visit lakegenevanews.net.

Fontana Boulevard, a section of Fontana Wisconsin that houses businesses, has historically been a struggling area for commerce. With businesses for sale on a seemingly regular basis, the village’s Plan commission is taking a closer look at what can be done to keep businesses thriving. During a planning meeting last month, a well-known site planner, Randall Arendt, presented to residents and village officials the suggestion that the village should change their current zoning methods. In the past individual parcels were discussed for zoning and planning, but there hasn’t been a holistic view. Arendt believes that if the village will take a look at the whole picture and make it a comprehensive plan, Fontana Boulevard will have a brighter future than its past.

The Plan Commission will discuss more about what can be done before the July 7^th Village Board meeting to present a different plan of action at that time.

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View New Featured Property Listings in Fontana Wisconsin

Lake Front Property Reports

This Fontana Wisconsin home is like new and located in the County Club Estates, featuring access to the beautiful nearby Geneva Lake. Basic features of the home include a two-story construction, 4 bedrooms and 2.50 baths, and an ideal location for year-round living or, if you prefer, just for the summer. This home also offers convenience in entertaining guests with a 2 story high living room and dining room, gorgeous wood floors throughout, spacious deck and screened porch, and an attached 3 car garage. The master bedroom has a tray ceiling and a roomy bath with a Jacuzzi tub. This marvelously constructed Fontana Wisconsin home is listed at $649,900.

You can view Virtual Tour of this Fontana Wisconsin home listing here.

For more information on this or other featured properties in the Lake Geneva Wisconsin area contact expert local agent Bob Webster via email or by phone (262) 348-3233, and he will be happy to answer any of your Lake Geneva Property questions.