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More new housing, possible local sales tax are goals for La Crosse, set by departing Mayor Reynolds

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Providing new housing in La Crosse is a goal being set for city government this year, and pretty much every year for the near future, according to Mayor Mitch Reynolds.

The mayor, who will be on WIZM’s La Crosse Talk on Wednesday, gave his final State of the City speech last week, during the January city council meeting. Reynolds, whose term ends in April, spoke about the projected need for additional homes.

“According to the recently completed housing study, our city needs to add upwards of 200 new homes annually to meet demand and insure economic vitality,” said Reynolds.

He cited the 5th Ward residences, the Collective on 4th, and the development at River Point District along Copeland Avenue as areas where new housing is being occupied or still being developed.

FILE – La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk PM in September of 2024.

Reynolds also pointed to the Pathways Home project, the plan to end homelessness in the city. He said continued cooperation with La Crosse County government will be needed to increase the supply of housing.

The mayor added that the existing process of paying for city government needs some changes, as he called for one specific new tax.

“I am joining those advocating with the governor’s office and state representatives to allow municipalities like ours to adopt a local sales tax,” Reynolds said. “As a diversified revenue source, this is a financial necessity, and a tool for our city to maintain and enhance essential services for residents.

The speech included references to public services that are improving in La Crosse. 

That includes the recent opening of new fire and police stations, and the expansion of the La Crosse wastewater treatment plant.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. R Head

    January 13, 2025 at 9:03 am

    Mitch will be gone soon hopefully he will find a new way out of town with the homeless. Wait till Trump cut the money to sanitary city’s.

  2. Kevin

    January 13, 2025 at 9:30 am

    Local sales tax for what? I want to see an itemized list of expenditures by department. Tell us ‘exactly’ what this new sales tax is going to pay for…in tangible goods & services.

  3. Roy

    January 13, 2025 at 11:38 am

    Buy something in Minneapolis and see where this “local sales tax” leads.

    Mayor Mitch, like all liberals, thinks taxes, new and increased are the answer to all problems. Throw money at it. Ask him and his fans on the Council how the millions and millions spent on the squatters has worked out so far. Now that the ARPA public funds are nearly gone, they think they can go begging to the state of Wisconsin. Ask your local Democrat Assemblymen and State Senators how they feel about that.
    I’ll give a little free advice to all politicians: Spending tax dollars on the squatters has no, I said NO, local support. Vote for it and kiss your political career goodbye….Just like Mitch.

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