5-year city spending plan up for debate in La Crosse

City spending projects for the next five years come up for debate Monday night at a meeting of the La Crosse City Plan Commission. 

The hearing at the Southside Neighborhood Center starts at 6 o’clock. 

High on the list of new borrowing requests for next year are $3 million for a new north-side fire station, with an equal amount to be borrowed again for the following year.  Improvements to South Avenue and the riverfront levee also are priorities for 2022.  A 5th fire station, for the far south side of town, is included in borrowing for ’23. 

A new study of the La Crosse River marsh also is being requested. 

The group ‘Friends of the Marsh’ is supporting efforts to study the effects of flooding on the marsh, and improving plant life in that area of the river.  One goal of the study could be to find ways to keep recreational trails open in the marsh.

Final votes on the 2022 city budget are expected in November.