Marathon County logo. MWC file photo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Board of Supervisors is set to take up a measure that would speak out against the proposed change to the definition of a metropolitan area.
Board Chairman Kurt Gibbs says the proposal, which raises the population threshold for a metropolitan area from 50,000 to 100,000, could mean the Wausau-Weston area would no longer qualify for direct community block-grant funding.
“We don’t know, 100% for sure, [what this could mean],” said Gibbs. “Currently, the Community Development Block-Grant Program uses the metropolitan designation to make cities eligible as a direct recipient.”
CDBG funding is federal money distributed to states, cities, and counties to help develop urban areas with suitable housing and economic opportunities for low to moderate incomes.
He says there’s no guarantee that the CDBG program would follow the lead of the federal government by changing their definition of metropolitan, but if they do it would mean Wausau and Weston would have to apply for the funding as part of a larger group instead of directly.
“It’s a multi-county consortium. So rather than a direct recipient, they would be put in a pool [and their funding] would depend on whoever was to apply for the funds that were available to the region.”
Other areas that would be impacted in Wisconsin include Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and some cities in the Fox Valley.
Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg has also encouraged residents and lawmakers to speak out against the proposed change.
The measure was passed unanimously by the County Board during Thursday’s educational meeting because public input on the proposal closes with the Federal government by week’s end.
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