CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – This year’s Wausau city budget is the worst of everything. Property taxes are going up, spending is up even more.
And the city council’s budget review process has made the spending package worse, not better.
There are two changes that could have saved money, but won’t.
First, the city is likely to drop its contract for Flock cameras. That’s the right thing to do. The people of Wausau don’t want to live in a surveillance state. Yet instead of just saving the $50,000, it will be spent on something else: an audit of the city’s budgeting process. An audit is necessary. $50,000 is too expensive.
The finance committee also removed $150,000 that Mayor Doug Diny included in the budget as a salary for a yet-to-be-hired City Administrator. The debate over a city administrator hasn’t even started yet, so budgeting for such a position is premature. There also seems to be little appetite on the City Council to change the current form of city government, since all five of the Finance Committee members voted to remove the line item. Unfortunately, the money will be spent on something else. It will be re-directed to maintaining the city’s vehicle fleet; a financial boondoggle.
The thinking here is wrong. Wausau taxpayers are facing the highest mil rate increase in 8 years. And we’re already told next year’s budget will include a big increase in borrowing costs. Redirecting cut money to other things is the wrong approach. Finding things to cut to save the taxpayers money is what’s necessary.
There’s a public hearing on the budget on November 10th. It’s the last chance for Wausau city leaders to do something for the taxpayers.
That sucking sound you’re hearing is money coming out of your wallet.
Chris Conley
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