Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – If Wausau’s City Council can’t hold the line on taxes this year, believe me, they never will.
Wausau is receiving a gift from state government: a $1.1-million increase in shared revenue. The city is still spending down the last of its federal COVID cash, and the city is getting some infrastructure money from Washington. And with all that, property taxes are still going up this year.
Yes, it is a small amount. The mill rate will go up 25-cents per thousand of assessed value. For my home it will be about $45 more. And you should be furious about it. The city has extra money that its never had before, and still is unable to keep its budget within its means.
We are told that initially all of the increase in state aid was going to be eaten up by higher health insurance costs for city employees. That begs the obvious question: why should you and me, the taxpayers, have to cover all of the increases in health care premiums? Shouldn’t at least some of those costs be passed on to the policyholders – city employees?
And consider all the wasteful spending. LED streetlights? Unnecessary soil removal at Riverside Park? Newly created positions in the police and fire departments, where salaries will be forced onto the taxpayers once grand money runs out. Solar panels – more expensive than conventional electricity – for our new water treatment plant.
The undeniable truth is that Wausau’s city leaders are big spenders. And never ever do they begin the budget process by saying ‘here’s the money that’s available to us’ – we must live within that amount. No, the city is more than willing to dip into the taxpayers pockets to cover any additional amount they want. This year it’s small, next year it may be more.
And you should cast a skepical eye towards your county and school board members. Marathon County and your local school district also received more state and federal money – and their taxes are going up too.
Your property tax will will arrive in a few weeks. As you ponder the higher amount, ask yourself, even when local government is flush with cash, why can’t it live within its means?
Chris Conley
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