Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email [email protected] or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403.
Dear Editor;
Watching the mayoral campaign, I attended debate forums and reviewed mailers and media for both candidates. Trying to make a decision, I’ve observed both candidates’ work first hand. I’m sharing some facts as I hear promises on the campaign trail, that I feel voters need clarity on when they choose a leader.
Fact: whoever the mayor is, that person can’t lower your water bills, taxes, housing cost, expand bus routes, or create growth. Period. The City Council voting actions, control all the decisions, budgets and investments that occur here. The mayor is handed those decisions and must manage the result. The mayor doesn’t approve borrowing, debt payment or budgets. Actually, whatever decision our council makes, the mayor gets credit or blame depending on how people feel. Without the work of the council, it’s just talk.
Mayor Rosenberg’s term started out rough in 2020. We were managing the pandemic and she had lots to learn about operations, revenue, and what cities can and can’t solve. Early on, we had conversations that made half the city mad and the other half happy. It became obvious the work and cost of local government affects everyone, regardless of political leanings. To make progress, she’d have to get people to work together in a common direction. It was like herding cats. There’s constant mistrust, division and conflict before you even know what people want to achieve. But she persevered.
Environmental problems, requiring costly solutions emerged. DNR mandates had already caused construction of the water plant/wastewater upgrades. Work was underway to address water issues DNR was most concerned with first and plan for future mandates. One regulation on the national horizon for the future: PFAS. What we didn’t expect were new guidelines and pending EPA rules requiring PFAS removal far sooner. Reducing acceptable levels to near zero and requiring lead pipes be removed in 10 years. Cities nationwide are struggling with this. The mayor knew Wausau could not afford to go it alone and grants would be competitive. She believed if these mandates were state and federal, part of the solution should be too. She began advocating at those upper levels for help, and she got it. Millions of dollars have been awarded so our ratepayers are not funding it with only local dollars.
Water rates are set by the WI Public Service Commission using financial data on operating cost, inflation, maintenance, debt, staffing and capital projects. No candidate can just promise anyone “lower water bills”, because they cannot just command a fix. The utility could make its case to the state for a partial rate reduction if a few things occur; lower operating costs by adding solar power, more infrastructure grant funding and a favorable settlement in the PFAS lawsuits the city filed. If settlements are enough to offset most of the debt from the new plant, it’s possible the PSC may consider a partial rate reduction. It takes over a year to complete the process. We’re already beginning by researching phased reductions to the PILOT payment that was widely discussed to reduce costs. To get water rate changes, we must submit at least a full year of operating data with the plant running at normal capacity and staffing before the state will even consider it. When anyone to promises you lower rates are coming if they get your vote, be skeptical.
In a debate last week, I heard the challenger tell people we need to “reduce regulations” on businesses, like childcare, so “grandparents” can open daycares to solve the workforce crisis. How? Most business regulations are state and federal, except simple local licenses and permits. He pledged to expand transit, knowing full well neighboring communities have been resistant to fund bus service under contracts, which are required under federal rules before our buses can enter those communities.
Worse, is the negative turn the campaign materials have taken. Three times in the last two weeks, residents received ugly mailers, claiming Mayor Rosenberg has driven up debt, water rates and delivered “reckless budgets”. Truth is, the planning, borrowing and budgets are worked on by the staff and council members in open meetings, with public hearings and there are multiple opportunities to adjust them all. A majority vote of the council is required to approve them. The mayor does not get a vote to decide any of that, nor did any mayors before or any after her.
I believe Doug Diny is a nice person who loves this community, but he is overselling the simplicity of the solutions in his ads. You don’t just lower taxes without big cuts to services or staffing. It is the council’s job to cut projects and budget requests each year that can wait and fund those that cannot. Council members approve all debt borrowing to pay for things we approved and we answer to our neighborhoods when services are cut that they expect or when things aren’t funded that they want.
Two mayors ago, the annual budget process began with a mayoral directive to cut each department budget by 10%. They cut road work, park projects, training for employees and staffing. But taxes were fairly level. We were not doing the work when it would’ve been less costly. Former staffers, lacking training, made million-dollar mistakes, and we’re a decade behind on road work now. Thankfully, Mayor Rosenberg tirelessly advocated for us in Madison gaining over $1M increase in shared revenue this year. Loss of those aids under prior Governors, was part of the problem and she has begun to turn that around, getting legislators to see local communities cannot continue to be underfunded while the state enjoys record surplus.
Pouring tons of cash and signage into a campaign doesn’t solve local problems, nor do partisan divisions. Managing city hall isn’t just about giving orders or selling a community. The solutions require advocacy and networking relationships at the levels of government that send down the mandates and hold a lot of the money. Our money. No mayor in my lifetime has been able to get Wausau noticed in a way that brings in the amount of funding assistance Mayor Rosenberg has already secured to move solutions forward. In making my decision for April 2, I believe that alone has earned her a second term.
Lisa Rasmussen, Wausau
Rasmussen is the Dist. 7 alder for the Wausau City Council.
