WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Former Mosinee Mayor Brent Jacobson says he’s leaving the city in a better place than he found it.
Jacobson, who resigned earlier this month following his election victory for the 87th Assembly District seat, says those victories include downtown revitalization and a new brewery. He also points to growth in the city’s business park as a victory for residents as the city nears the end of a tax increment finance district in the park.
“I feel we are leaving the city in a great place. We will be closing that tax increment district very soon,” said Jacobson. “That is going to bring in a whole new source of revenue for the general fund. That’s [always] the goal. If you successfully run a TIF, you return more money back to the taxpayers for that sacrifice.”
Tax increment financing allows the city to keep a portion of the tax revenue generated in a certain area in a special fund dedicated to projects in that area. These can include updating water and sewer, street construction, or marketing to new businesses. Closing the district means more money for the city, county, school district, and technical college.
Jacobson says he’s also set the city up to renegotiate cell phone tower leases through the water utility, which could bring “north of seven figures” to the general fund. “These are new sources of revenue that are going to give the next Mayor and City Council the opportunity to, I hope, provide property tax relief because it is long overdue.”
City Council President Doug Milke is serving as acting Mayor. Voters will select a new Mayor in April.
Other topics Jacobson discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischer include:
Start of video- recap of Jacobson’s big year in 2024
5:30- Lookback to Jacobson’s tenure as Mayor
11:00- Jacobson’s plans for the upcoming state budget negotiations
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