Waterfront Development proposed for Schofield, WI
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Schofield is relocating its City Hall. The current building sits on the last developable waterfront land in the city.
It’s more valuable in the hands of developers. Three buildings, with a combination of studio, one, two and three bedroom units will be built.
I’m not talking about this because I’m opposed to the development or to moving City Hall to the current DPW site. All of this makes perfect sense. My topic today is cautionary: what to do with the money?
What Schofield leaders and residents need to remember is that this is also the last large parcel of land that will change the city’s tax base. The developers agreement says the project will be valued at a minimum of $19.5-million. When the construction is finished, Schofield will get a windfall in property tax revenue.
Now is a good time to ask ‘what will it be used for?’
Keep in mind, the propensity for government – federal, state or local – is to spend whatever money comes in. That’s why residents should carve out now some guideposts. For instance, how much will be set aside to lower property taxes? If you think your taxes are too high now, this is the last, best chance to lower them.
I assure you there are many people, both within and outside of government, who have their own lists of “wouldn’t it be nice” projects. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a new city park with better amenities.” Or “now the fire department can get all that new equipment that we’ve been talking about for years.” Now I’m not opposed to nice, new park or to firefighters having the apparatus they need. I’m just sounding the warning now, before shovels are in the ground and the new tax dollars arrive, that some people are hatching plans on how to spend it already. How much will lower the tax burden?
Remember, after this, there’s no more waterfront land to sell off to developers.
Chris Conley
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