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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Most people run for public office because they want to do something. They see unmet needs in our country, or our state, or our community, and they want to change those things.
Well, suppose you ran for office and found out after winning that there wasn’t any money left for your priorities. Well, if you were running for Congress – no problem. Just add whatever it is to the federal deficit. That’s how we almost got an LGBTQ center in Pennsylvania as part of a federal spending bill that’s made its way through the Capitol right now. It was dropped after being exposed by a Libs of Tic Toc post.
Now let’s consider what’s happening in Wausau. City debt has gone from $50-million to $200-million. In short, if you’re running for office in the city and have a pet project, sorry, that money has already been spent.
That’s the unfortunate situation that candidate Doug Diny finds himself in (and he has an excellent chance of winning in eight days) is that he is almost certain to be an austerity mayor. What Wausau needs most is a mayor, and a city council, who will face the reality that the money is gone. What we need is leaders who can say ‘no’ even to projects that are worthy or popular.
I will give you two examples: Wausau spent some of its COVID cash to hire three new firefighters. It brought that department up to full staffing. But the federal funding only lasts for three years, then the city needs to pick up those costs. We need city leaders who deliver the hard truth that – while cuts to public safety are never popular – those positions are in jeopardy when the money runs out. Just this month Wausau’s police chief asked for two more officers to deal with a surge in homelessness. And while I’m opposed to the Portlandization of Wausau, the money simply isn’t there. Perhaps the police department will need to shift some of its resources to address the issue. I’ve pointed out in these commentaries that Wausau PD had the manpower to issue 3:30am parking tickets in my neighborhood. Perhaps that manpower should be reallocated.
What do the city’s priorities need to be? Growing the tax base. Without more economic development coming in, fewer and fewer property owners are covering more and more of the city’s tax base. Borrowing more cannot be the answer; interest rates are much higher now. Even as the city pays off old debt, new debt is more expensive.
Current Mayor Katie Rosenberg has been a big spender. It’s unfortunate but true: for the next group of city leaders, the cupboard is bare and the money tree isn’t in bloom.
Chris Conley
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