La Crosse city budget approved in short meeting

It only took about 15 minutes to approve a new budget for the city of La Crosse on Tuesday night. 

The common council passed the 2020 budget with minimal changes, including a decrease of $272,000 in the city’s general fund. 

No one from the public signed up to speak on the $69-million spending plan. 

Council member Doug Happel is happy that public concern over increased property values did not lead to tax hikes.

“Increased property assessments is not necessarily a bad thing,” Happel said. “It’s a sign of a healthy, vibrant city.”

The mill rate in La Crosse dropped below $12 for every $1,000 of assessed value for the first time in at least seven years.  The new mill rate is $10.39 per $1,000.