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Much of the money that local governments across Wisconsin are asking for this fall will be spent on pay raises and government worker benefits, but some of it will be spent on paper towels and road salt.
Dozens of cities and towns across Wisconsin have approved referendum questions for the November ballot. They are asking for millions of dollars for operational expenses.
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann said not all of that money, however, will go towards larger paychecks.
Schoemann said the same inflation that has families paying more for everything from gas to groceries is also costing local governments more.
“[Inflation] has had huge impacts in the last four years, post COVID, especially,” Schoeman said on News Talk 1130 WISN on Friday. “But even just in this last budget cycle, which is why you're starting to see these referenda.”
Cities like Madison, Monona, and Baraboo are all asking taxpayers to approve referendum questions this fall, all of which are dedicated to day-to-day expenses.
Schoemann said local governments need to “start thinking about making the hard decisions” about spending as opposed to just going to taxpayers for more money. And he said inflation will force local governments to make those decisions quicker than they may like.
Still, Schoemann said, no one can deny that the costs for local governments are higher now than just a few years ago.
“Just in this last year alone, salt prices have increased for us 37%, fuel is up almost 25%, janitorial supplies are up 60%,” Schoemann explained. “What you're seeing at home with the cost of eggs, the cost of gas, the cost of every commodity that we have to buy in life just extrapolates up to local government.”
Baraboo held a community meeting Thursday to answer questions about its $2 million-a-year referendum request, and many neighbors said they’re worried they cannot afford a tax hike.
A Madison TV station quoted Baraboo’s city administrator as saying that if locals want to continue to see the same level of service, they’re going to have to pay for it.
Schoemann said taxpayers understand that.
“Like everything else, it all falls back on the taxpayer,” Schoemann added. “Because it's your money.”
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