City may have to raise taxes to cater to parking ramp

Two pricey ramp projects
going on downtown

For some on the La Crosse city council, the credit card spending mentality doesn’t sit well.

Last week, the council narrowly approved a development deal on a $17 million parking ramp for the lot C development downtown, which is $500,000 more than the city can afford … maybe?

Hard to say for certain, says northside council rep Ryan Cornett.

“Hopefully, when these bids go out and come back they’ll be lower than expected but, for the most part, yes, we’re going to have a shortfall,” Cornett said.

He voted against the pricey ramp option, preferring to add on to the ramp later when the city could afford it. As it stands, if bids for the 600-stall ramp do come in at $17 million, the city will either have to raid reserve funds or raise taxes to make up the difference.

La Crosse is also seeking to add two levels to the Riverside parking ramp at a cost around $6 million, not including the $600,000 design price tag. That plan, however, would not lead to increases in taxes or raiding reserve funds.