Part of a $14 million loan helps finance La Crosse’s landfill

About $14 million in state loans given to local governments

This week, a state commission in Wisconsin gave loans adding up to $14 million to several local governments.

The money will pay for fire trucks, squad cars, road construction and, in La Crosse County, nearly $8 million will finance the county landfill.  

County administrator Steve O’Malley, however, said this funding will help the county save money at no cost to the taxpayer:

“We had already borrowed this money earlier,” O’Malley said. “And we learned of a way to save interest by refinancing that, so we’ll actually lower costs for the landfill and save money over time.

“This is existing debt for previous construction of landfill, and other improvements at the landfill. So, it’s not a new project.”

O’Malley added that the approval of the loan tells him that the state appreciates the way La Crosse County manages money.  

The landfill money for La Crosse was among more than a dozen requests given the OK by the Commissioners of Public Lands.

The village of Wilton near Tomah, Wis., gets close to $1 million for public projects, and the Baraboo School District will get to purchase a building with its $600,000 loan.