Wausau City Hall. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau City Council has voted to schedule a Committee of the Whole discussion on priorities and procedures for the upcoming city budget process.
Sarah Watson and Carol Lukens requested the meeting through the council’s rule allowing two alders to request a Committee of the Whole meeting. Watson said she would like to see the Council get in the habit of working ahead on the budget. “I guess I have this really glorious [hope] where we would look at our priorities, then task committees with finding efficiencies or cutting expenses, but guide that process more than [doing so] on the backend,” said Watson.
Alder Michael Martens, who has chaired the Finance Committee through the last two budgets, says it could be an opportunity to allow more alders to see more of the budget and be involved in the process sooner. “I think what has happened is we get to a point where we bring everything to the [full] council in October, and the body might be a little blindsided.”
District 11 Alder Brue Trueblood said he doesn’t know how another meeting will help the process, because the Finance Committee already has guidance from the full council on budget priorities, which will be established during the Council Retreat. “If the finance committee follows our recommendations, then we have that process established, and I’m not sure why we need an additional committee meeting.”
Trueblood would later clarify that he is not against having a Committee of the Whole on the topic, but he is opposed to the “timing and methodology,” saying the meeting may be better placed after the Finance Committee has had its first look at the proposed 2027 spending plan.
“I think the [Council] Retreat should happen first, then I think the Finance Committee should have their first swing at it, then I think it would be a good time for a Committee of the Whole to [talk about it] or have them bring questions to us [about the budget],” said Trueblood.
The vote was 9-2, with Trueblood and Matt Hoenecke voting no. The meeting will be scheduled at a later date.
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