MERRILL, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Merrill’s Mayor says he will veto the city’s 2019 budget.
Mayor Derek Woellner made the announcement in an early Monday morning Facebook post.
Last week the Common Council voted to increase its property tax rate by almost 5 percent. “I believe that a 3% increase is attainable and more palatable for those with frugal tastes,” Woellner said.
The council voted to increase property taxes because of back loaded payments on a previous referendum and three major health insurance claims from former city employees.
One resident collected about 150 signatures from people who opposed the tax hike. “To clear up one last thing, I never made a promise to veto something due to a citizen-led petition. What I promised was that before I submit a veto, I would collect 50 signatures, in an effort to ensure that I hear from a large number of people first,” Woellner said in his Facebook post.
The Common Council can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
