CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Today’s commentary is NOT about how many firefighters Wausau should have. Fire chief Bob Barteck says the department is understaffed. He’s the expert on that, not me.
Last month Wausau agreed to hire three more firefighters.
The salaries will be paid for with ARPA money. That’s the American Recovery Plan Act. It’s COVID-cash. Governor Tony Evers has a huge stash of Biden Bucks. It’s his “walking around money” to help his re-election. He can give it out however he wishes without legislative approval. School districts and municipalities have ARPA money too. Wausau’s share is about $15-million.
To state the obvious, hiring more firefighters has nothing to do with COVID. Neither does changing to LED streetlights or replacing aging water pipes.
But that’s not the point.
What’s the difference?
Well, COVID cash is a one-time thing. The money won’t continue in perpetuity. And one-time money should be spent on one-time things. And while I don’t care about new streetlights, once the change is made, it’s done.
That’s different than hiring more firefighters. APRA funds will cover the new salaries for about two years. Then the city either fires them, or picks up the cost as a part of the regular city budget. So the city will have to absorb these costs once the one-time federal money runs out.
Wausau leaders are essentially making a bet that in two years the economy will grow enough that the new salaries can be covered through the tax levy. And if things don’t work out, you’ll pay… through higher taxes. In other words, the city is making a risky bet with your money.
I’m Chris Conley
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