OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Finance & Personnel Committee Meeting – August 10, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Monday, August 10, 2026
BodyLa Crosse, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateMonday, August 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:35:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

So as I was explaining, the increase of debt service, if it's a million dollars from a year, doesn't necessarily equate to a million dollar increase to the operating budget, which is due to multiple factors.

0:14

I mean, there's other funds that come into the debt service fund, such as investment earnings on the funds that are in the debt service fund.

0:22

When we issue debt, sometimes uh we sell it at a premium.

0:27

So we sell it for more than it's worth, so we get more funds than we're expecting, and those funds need to be used to pay down the debt as well.

0:35

Uh, there's also other funds such as room tax and other funds that support the debt service.

0:40

So just a note on that.

0:43

And then in the bottom right of the slide was some assumptions that were made.

0:48

Um we were authorized for 15.9 million for the 2026 borrowing, and we're projected to use $2 million of unappropriate funds.

0:58

So that's where the borrowing of 13.965%.

1:02

And then the borrowing targets for 27 through 2031 are listed as well as the assumed interest rate.

1:16

Um the next slide is going over debt limits.

1:21

Just want to kind of revisit um what kind of constraints or debt limits we have as a municipality when we go out to issue new debt.

1:32

So the state law limits the amount of outstanding general obligation debt to 5% of a municipality's equalized value.

1:40

So as of December 31st, 25, that would put our debt limit at 298 million.

1:47

Now we have a city ordinance that sets a stricter debt limit at 75% of the debt of the state limit.

1:54

So that would put us at uh a limit of 223.8 million.

1:59

And currently, as of the end of 25, we had total applicable debt of 125 million, which means per our policy we have a borrowing capacity of 98 million that we could borrow up to to stay within our limit.

2:15

Uh so those limits are kind of on the total outstanding debt that we can have.

2:19

Uh, there's also on the tax levy side, there's limits.

2:23

Uh Wisconsin law allows municipalities the authority to increase the tax levy up to the full amount of the annual debt service expenditures that year.

2:37

Um and then I just have a few more points to finish up this uh presentation.

2:42

Um tonight uh with the approval and the ultimate approval at council, uh they'll be authorizing the capital fund appropriation for just year one, year twos through five are more plans, and that's not authorizing those amounts.

2:59

Um the 2027 borrowing um will tip it typically uh schedule is it gets issued in the third quarter, so it'll get issued in the third quarter of 2027 with the first payment due to hit the 2028 operating budget.

3:17

And when the uh borrowing targets were set um in projections, it was projected that the 2027 borrowing amount that we have before you would increase the 2028 debt service expenses by 250,000 on the operating budget levy.

3:44

Are there any questions for Deputy DeGure?

3:54

Seeing none, thank you very much.

3:56

Appreciate it.

4:12

Would anyone like to make a motion to recommend to adopt?

4:26

I motion to adopt.

4:29

Excuse me, Councilmember Newberry.

4:32

Can I motion to adopt?

4:33

Yes.

4:33

Okay.

4:34

Do you want 20?

4:39

Motion to recommend to adopt by council member Newberry, seconded by council member Northwood.

4:44

Are there any questions?

4:49

Councilmember Seleznikal.

4:54

Thank you, Chair.

4:56

There is a proposed amendment.

5:00

I'm wondering if that needs to be considered prior to actually adopting the budget.

5:07

And I guess my my question is I did have a question about the proposed amendment.

5:11

So if that's appropriate, I would like to ask staff for a I guess clarification.

5:28

Is there anyone like here to speak to that amendment?

5:40

Good evening.

5:42

Yes, I have amendment for the capital equipment.

5:59

Of course, we submit these in February.

6:01

Snowplow season's not over.

6:03

And then of course we go through the trucks and we start evaluating.

6:07

After the last snow season, uh we've made it or last past snow plowing season, uh, kind of made an adjustment and would like to go with one tandem and three singles instead uh because we do have a little more need.

6:21

And I mean, again, trucks that you know for this budget we won't see until 2028.

6:26

So we're always trying to project years out, but we just have a few singles that have more issues than the tandems do.

6:33

So that is what the amendment is just switching my number uh so that I don't have to come back after you guys approve this and ask you to make the switch.

6:42

I just thought I'd try to see if I could make the switch so that it was all done in one swoop.

6:48

So I know what your question was.

6:50

Do you want to okay?

6:52

So what I did is I took the tandem that we ordered because the tandem that we ordered this year will be the exact same tandem I order next year.

7:01

So I I know what that costs.

7:03

Um the problem was as we project these prices.

7:09

So last year, my single axles uh came in a lot higher than what you know we had projected.

7:16

Uh they were 302,000.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████24%
Economic Development████████████████████20%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Public Safety████4%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance & Personnel Committee Meeting – August 10, 2026

The Finance & Personnel Committee met on August 10, 2026, to consider a lengthy agenda including the 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Budget (CIP), multiple special assessment resolutions, ARPA fund reallocation, a police camera donation, TID amendments, and closed session matters. The most contentious item was the CIP, which failed after amendments and debate. Several other items were approved unanimously or with one dissenting vote.

Capital Improvement Budget (26-0499)

  • The committee considered the 2027-2031 CIP, which proposed $13.9 million in new debt for 2027. Deputy DeGure presented the debt service outlook, noting state and city debt limits.
  • Amendment 1 (Snowplow trucks): Councilmember Northwood moved to approve an amendment from the Public Works department to reallocate funds between truck types (one tandem and three singles instead of two tandems) to better match fleet needs. The amendment passed 4-2.
  • Amendment 2 (Hooska Park bathrooms): Councilmember Kahlow moved to add $175,000 in 2027 for repairs to the Hooska Park bathrooms, which have been inoperable since 2020. The Park Department recommended repairs over full replacement. The amendment passed unanimously.
  • Amendment 3 (Library parking lot removal): Councilmember Janssen moved to remove $200,000 for the library parking lot resurfacing, citing the need for spending restraint. The amendment passed 4-1.
  • Discussion: Councilmembers expressed concerns about the $600,000 placeholder for a Municipal Services Center study, the overall debt level, and future highway projects. Councilmember Kahlow indicated she might vote no to allow more time for discussion.
  • Final vote: The resolution to approve the 2027-2031 CIP failed, 2-4.

Noncompliant Sewer Lateral Reconstruction (26-0664)

  • Director Gallagher explained the partial assessment for work on a shared lateral at 9th & Division. The utility covered road repairs; property owners were assessed only for pipe replacement. Approved unanimously.

Parking System Assessment (26-0685)

  • The committee approved the annual downtown parking assessment of $187,325.50 for 2026. Councilmember Kahlow asked about revenue shortfalls; staff noted a one-time bad debt write-off and expected increased revenue from extended enforcement hours. Approved unanimously.

Water Utility Annual Report (26-0699)

  • The report was received and filed. Approved unanimously.

Clean Water Fund Loan (26-0700)

  • Resolution to declare intent to borrow for UV disinfection upgrade at the wastewater plant. The project is funded by utility funds, not general fund. Approved unanimously.

TID 11 Amendment (26-0704)

  • Director Train explained the amendment allows TID 11 to serve as a donor TID for infrastructure improvements in TIDs 19 (former Kmart site) and 20 (Bridgeview Plaza). No impact on existing TID 11 commitments. Approved unanimously.

ARPA Fund Reallocation (26-0731)

  • Staff explained reallocation of unspent ARPA funds from downtown tree planting to citywide tree planting, and floodplain study funds to administrative expenses. Councilmember Kahlow noted tree stumps downtown and hoped remaining funds could address trip hazards. Approved unanimously.

Police Camera Donation (26-0738)

  • The La Crosse City Vision Foundation donated funds for additional security cameras (Safe Cam 2) in Riverside Park and River Point North. Police Department stated minimal city maintenance costs (~$50/year per camera). Approved 5-1.

Public Market Predevelopment (26-0739)

  • Resolution to allocate TID 11 funds to the Redevelopment Authority for updating the public market feasibility study. Director Train outlined the history and partnership model. Councilmember Janssen noted reservations but supported the study. Councilmember Kahlow emphasized need for downtown infrastructure maintenance. Approved unanimously.

Noncompliant Utility Services (26-0751)

  • Public hearing held. Property owner Carl Green spoke in support, describing how the shared lateral delayed his home sale. He urged the city to better notify property owners of such issues. Resolution approved unanimously.

Parking Assignment (26-0545) – Closed Session

  • After closed session, the committee voted to refer the resolution for 30 days. Unanimous.

Town of Campbell Incorporation Appeal (26-0755) – Closed Session

  • Resolution authorizing funds for the appeal. Approved 5-1.

Estoppel Certificate (26-0789) – Closed Session

  • Approved unanimously.

State Farm Settlement (26-0800) – Closed Session

  • Approved unanimously.

Collective Bargaining Update – Closed Session

  • The committee entered closed session; no further action reported.

Key Outcomes

  • 2027-2031 CIP failed (2-4). Further discussion expected.
  • Multiple resolutions approved as noted above.
  • Public comment from Carl Green on sewer lateral issues.

Meeting Transcript

So as I was explaining, the increase of debt service, if it's a million dollars from a year, doesn't necessarily equate to a million dollar increase to the operating budget, which is due to multiple factors. I mean, there's other funds that come into the debt service fund, such as investment earnings on the funds that are in the debt service fund. When we issue debt, sometimes uh we sell it at a premium. So we sell it for more than it's worth, so we get more funds than we're expecting, and those funds need to be used to pay down the debt as well. Uh, there's also other funds such as room tax and other funds that support the debt service. So just a note on that. And then in the bottom right of the slide was some assumptions that were made. Um we were authorized for 15.9 million for the 2026 borrowing, and we're projected to use $2 million of unappropriate funds. So that's where the borrowing of 13.965%. And then the borrowing targets for 27 through 2031 are listed as well as the assumed interest rate. Um the next slide is going over debt limits. Just want to kind of revisit um what kind of constraints or debt limits we have as a municipality when we go out to issue new debt. So the state law limits the amount of outstanding general obligation debt to 5% of a municipality's equalized value. So as of December 31st, 25, that would put our debt limit at 298 million. Now we have a city ordinance that sets a stricter debt limit at 75% of the debt of the state limit. So that would put us at uh a limit of 223.8 million. And currently, as of the end of 25, we had total applicable debt of 125 million, which means per our policy we have a borrowing capacity of 98 million that we could borrow up to to stay within our limit. Uh so those limits are kind of on the total outstanding debt that we can have. Uh, there's also on the tax levy side, there's limits. Uh Wisconsin law allows municipalities the authority to increase the tax levy up to the full amount of the annual debt service expenditures that year. Um and then I just have a few more points to finish up this uh presentation. Um tonight uh with the approval and the ultimate approval at council, uh they'll be authorizing the capital fund appropriation for just year one, year twos through five are more plans, and that's not authorizing those amounts. Um the 2027 borrowing um will tip it typically uh schedule is it gets issued in the third quarter, so it'll get issued in the third quarter of 2027 with the first payment due to hit the 2028 operating budget. And when the uh borrowing targets were set um in projections, it was projected that the 2027 borrowing amount that we have before you would increase the 2028 debt service expenses by 250,000 on the operating budget levy. Are there any questions for Deputy DeGure? Seeing none, thank you very much. Appreciate it. Would anyone like to make a motion to recommend to adopt? I motion to adopt. Excuse me, Councilmember Newberry. Can I motion to adopt? Yes. Okay. Do you want 20? Motion to recommend to adopt by council member Newberry, seconded by council member Northwood. Are there any questions? Councilmember Seleznikal. Thank you, Chair. There is a proposed amendment. I'm wondering if that needs to be considered prior to actually adopting the budget. And I guess my my question is I did have a question about the proposed amendment. So if that's appropriate, I would like to ask staff for a I guess clarification. Is there anyone like here to speak to that amendment? Good evening. Yes, I have amendment for the capital equipment. Of course, we submit these in February. Snowplow season's not over. And then of course we go through the trucks and we start evaluating. After the last snow season, uh we've made it or last past snow plowing season, uh, kind of made an adjustment and would like to go with one tandem and three singles instead uh because we do have a little more need. And I mean, again, trucks that you know for this budget we won't see until 2028.

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