WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) — Wausau voters will see three referendums on the April ballot, and the City Council finalized how they will appear to voters at the polls.
First, the non-binding referendum of choosing the existing government structure or hiring a City Administrator. The proposed language passed unanimously 10-0 with Alderman Nutting absent.
The referendum question about creating a stormwater utility and charging fees to all properties based on the amount of impervious area was discussed extensively. Wausau has an ordinance requiring the Council to seek referendum approval to create a new fee. Council President Romey Wagner believes this issue is one where the city should try for a 2/3rds majority to repeal the ordinance, and then vote to create the stormwater utility so that all properties are paying their fair share for stormwater costs. He says the Council is able to educate themselves on where the revenue should come from on the garbage and stormwater issues. “I found out that garbage collection is based off of the value of your home and goes on your property taxes. The average person can’t understand that, and you should pay for the garbage you create.”
Wagner also believes the stormwater should be paid for equally by all property owners based on how much drains from the property. “As far as the stormwater goes, the fact that almost 30% of the flat surfaces in our town are at non-profits or churches, schools, different ones that are not paying stormwater because they don’t pay taxes. I believe that that is one service that should be paid for in use.”
Alderman Bill Nagle supported the user fee for stormwater, but believes garbage fees should remain on the tax levy.
The question about creating a fee for garbage and recycling while removing it from the tax levy ended in a 5-5 tie vote, with Mayor Jim Tipple breaking the tie to support the change to a fee-based garbage system.
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Referendum Questions of Wausau:
CITY ADMINISTRATOR:This is non-binding, and only advises the council of the resident’s wishes. No action is mandated by passing the referendum.
It shall appear as follows: “Shall the City of Wausau establish the position of City Administrator, reduce the Mayor’s position to part time, and transfer administrative and operational responsibilities from the Mayor to the City Administrator? The city will retain the Mayor-Council form of government under chapter 62 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.”
STORMWATER:This would be a binding referendum, requiring the city to act if passed.
“The City of Wausau operates and maintains a stormwater management system made up of natural and man-made facilities to manage stormwater runoff. The cost of the city’s stormwater management system is currently supported through property taxes, and the city is considering the creation of a stormwater utility to provide a dedicated funding source to maintain the stormwater management system. The stormwater utility would institute a fee to fairly allocate costs based on the area of the impervious surface (i.e. roof, driveway or parking lot) at each property within the city. An average impervious area would be implied at single-family residential properties resulting in a net reduction of the cost to the owner for stormwater management. Like with existing water and sewer utilities, charges would apply to homes, for-profit entities, not-for-profit organizations, and government buildings equally.”
GARBAGE PICKUP FEE: This would be a binding referendum, requiring the city to act if passed.
“May the City of Wausau institute a fee for garbage pickup and recycling while removing the cost of this service from the tax levy?
