Jay Phagan / CC
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The election for mayor in Wausau is one week from today. I think looking at your property taxes is far more persuasive than some endorsements that have come out over the last few days.
Alderwoman and former City Council President Lisa Rasmussen endorses Katie Rosenberg.
The last three mayors of Wausau, Robert Mielke, Jim Tipple, and Linda Lawrence all endorse Doug Diny.
Lisa Rasmussen’s endorsement deserves some pushback. And I will preface my comments by saying that she is particularly knowledgeable about the city’s finances. She’s the current chair of Wausau’s finance committee. She says the Mayor doesn’t control things like the city budget and water rates. She knows better. Each mayor’s administration puts together a budget proposal with the city’s Finance Director, a part of the mayor’s administration. And the Mayor has the power of the veto. If, for instance, the city’s budget spends too much, it takes 8 of the 11 council members to override. Mayor Katie Rosenberg did not veto the most recent city budget, and Councilwoman Rasmussen voted for it. They’re both big spenders. Certainly Ms. Rasmussen knows that Wausau’s ballooning debt levels are not sustainable.
Rasmussen says in her endorsement that Mayor Katie deserves another term because our Mayor is well-liked by liberals in Madison and Washington, and that her connections can funnel money to Wausau. Really? That’s what our city’s finances come down to? How well the mayor can shake the state and federal money trees. State and federal money comes and goes. When it doesn’t materialize, what happens to our property taxes? Well, we already know. The city got a $1.1-million increase in state aid – literally a fiscal gift – and property taxes still went up.
The endorsements of all three former mayors, all expressing support for Ding Diny, are much more significant. These are people who’ve put together city budgets before. Surely they are aghast that the city’s debt is four times as high today as when they were in office. Wausau has never spent like this before. Voters like you and me will have to derail the money train.
Chris Conley
Comments