Wausau Friday Facts (5/7)
Why Vote “No” on the Upcoming
City Referendum to Increase Taxes?
Because city hall needs to hear “NO!” It is what is necessary to change the culture at city hall. And, you can rest assured that the city is not going to fire 12 first responders if the referendum fails.
Truth be told, there are seven members of the current city council who are always chomping at the bit to spend more money. As a cudgel to get their way, these alders—working with members of the staff—have fabricated a story-line and a faux fiscal crisis to con you into raising your taxes by $1.4 million.
Here is how it was done. It started in 2023 by using one-time grant funds to hire 12 firefighters. Everyone knew the grant money would run out after 2026.
Did city hall take steps to permanently fund some or all of the 12 positions in the 2024 budget? NO.
Did city hall take steps to permanently fund some or all of the 12 positions in the 2025 budget? NO.
Did city hall take steps to permanently fund some or all of the firefighters in the 2026 budget? Actually, yes, a long overdue step.
The council finally voted to close TIF District 7, providing sufficient money to fund 4 of the 12 positions. The Mayor announced it in the city's January newsletter. Yet, the council still decided to ask the citizens for money to fund all 12 positions “in case they needed some extra money for something else.”
Realistically, we are only looking for money for 8 positions. The City of Wausau has 354 full time positions. In any given year, about two dozen employees leave, retire or are let go. If we slowed down hiring a bit and only filled two-out-of-three vacancies in 2026, then we would be able to create enough space in the 2027 budget for the remaining 8 first responders without ever issuing a pink slip.
Yet, despite the fact that this problem is very solvable, 12 firefighters have been told by their bosses that they will lose their jobs if city hall does not get the extra money it wants.
Think about this for a moment. Really think. It should shock the conscience to see our city's first responders callously used as hostages in a budget scam. What a terrible way to treat employees!
Moreover, the fire chief has been told that unless he and his people get out and campaign for this tax increase, he will lose 12 of his 75-member workforce. The city should not be making department heads beg the public directly for funds just because the current council could not put together a budget that balanced position authority with spending authority.
We have a Police and Fire Commission for a reason. State statutes created local police and fire commissions to insulate first responders from political pressure. What does no “political pressure” look like? It means that senior staff or politicians at city hall should not be able to threaten the jobs of first responders as a means of coercing them into doing their bidding.
That is exactly what is happening in Wausau, and it is a disgrace. The alders who manufactured this crisis have forced the firefighters to fight for this tax increase while they are quietly running for re-election as “fiscally responsible.”
There is ‘NO’ good reason why your taxes need to go up even more than they already have. There is certainly ‘NO’ good reason why first responder jobs need to be put on the line. Say ‘NO’ to the referendum with confidence. Vote out the incumbents who are trying to hold public safety as a hostage to squeeze even more money out of you. Together, we can elect a new majority that will discharge its duties responsibly and keep the community safe without raising taxes or lowering public safety standards.
Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to register your comments on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/wausaudistrict6/
Wausau Friday Facts is a once-a-week presentation of factual data to inform residents about their city government. It is put out by the Friends of Keene Winters, Cathy Winters, Treasurer.
For more information about Keene Winters and his policy positions, please go to:
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