STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — The Stevens Point City Council has approved two of the three referendum questions scheduled for discussion and action as part of Monday’s agenda.
Voters will be considering two transportation infrastructure projects as part of the April 4th non-partisan general election including reconstruction projects in the areas of Bliss Avenue and Maria Drive. Mayor Mike Wiza told the council they don’t have an estimate as to how much those projects will cost, but it will likely exceed the $1 million threshold which requires voter approval.
“We need to give ourselves some flexibility. We don’t completely know what we are going to do yet, but we are very confident that [both projects] will exceed $1 million,” said Wiza. “And we are now obligated, at least through August of 2023, to put these to a public referendum.”
The projects are part of the city’s five-year spending plan, meaning they are already accounted for in the city’s capital budget. Voting them down will not decrease a residential tax bill. Instead, Wiza says a no vote will keep the city from doing its business.
Some alders noted that it is somewhat out of order to bring those questions to the council directly, without first vetting them in committee, but Wiza noted that the city is working on a deadline of January 24th to get the questions on the April ballot. Additionally, there is no general election in November, meaning there is only one chance to get the items before the voters.
Alders also said there is a level of newness to the process, given that the requirement for such projects was first implemented in August 2022.
Voters did pass four such questions during the November ’22 mid-term election, though some passed by small margins.
Alders did decline to take action on a possible referendum that would have asked voters to exceed the state’s property tax levy limit in 2024. In part because of a movement in Madison for an increase in shared revenue in the new biannual budget. Council President Meleesa Johnson, who is also running for Mayor this April, says she’s talked to both Democrats and Republicans and feels confident that something will happen later this year.
“There is a consensus on both sides of the aisle,” said Johnson. “That we will be seeing more shared revenue. Therefore it would be irresponsible to ask taxpayers for more money. Again, it’s not 100%, but boy that’s the first time I’ve heard both sides be very, very happy about the same thing,”
Wiza shared Johnson’s excitement and said that Monday’s discussion was on the agenda to explore all options for dealing with the projected budget shortfall in 2024. “The reason this is before you (the Council) at all is because we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t present the council with all of the options.”
Again, the matter was also time sensitive given the January 24th ballot deadline. Johnson also noted that the city has a general, unassigned fund balance of over $12 million which is set aside as a rainy day fund.
“We could potentially have money left over at the end of the year. We might get some shared revenue, but not enough. There are options, and we will know a lot more when it comes to budget 2023, for the year 2024 time,” added Wiza.
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Both of Monday’s votes were unanimous.
