Kabat vetoes budget over missed “golden opportunity”

Mayor says no good reason for additional spending

A veto from La Crosse mayor Tim Kabat on the city’s operating budget for next year is statement on spending priorities.

Kabat, in a veto message released today, says the city council has missed a “golden opportunity to send a message of fiscal restraint” by putting forward a spending plan for next year that includes $250,000 in part to address needs that have not come up yet.

City council members have also pushed for the extra spending as a way to protect the ability to raise taxes in the future.

Kabat says the increase makes no sense when the city already has $3 million in excess reserve funds – money that is beyond the 25 percent of recommended minimum reserve fund balance.

“How much is enough?” Kabat asked in relation to the healthy level of reserves. 

Kabat said it wasn’t in the best interest of the city to adopt a budget, “that raises taxes without good reason. That creates a fiscal burden for City taxpayers, especially for those households who have to scratch and claw every month to pay their bills.”

Kabat’s $69-million budget plan for next year included roughly $35 million in a property tax levy – over $600,000 less than what the city could have levied under state law.

City council members thought the minimal decrease in taxes wasn’t worth not having the extra cash on hand for emergencies.  

The council will vote on whether to override Kabat’s veto at a meeting Thursday night.