The referendum, which will be on the November 5 ballot, calls for an additional tax increase of $3.5 million per year through 2044.
STEVENS POINT – The Portage County Board of Supervisors will consider another referendum Tuesday to fund the future of its county-owned nursing home.
Passing the referendum would allow an additional $3.5 million in annual tax increases through 2044. The referendum language, which would appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, was approved Aug. 7 in a joint meeting of the Health Centers, Spaces and Property, Finance and Executive/Operations committees.
If approved, the funds would be used “for the operating costs of the Portage County Health Care Center, which may include the costs of constructing a new health care facility in Portage County,” the resolution approving the referendum text states.
Portage County voters approved a $4.5 million referendum for the same purpose in 2022, but the project was put on hold in early 2023 due to concerns about rising costs to build and operate the current facility.
If passed, the referendum would increase the county’s allowable annual tax revenue by approximately 9.61%, from $36,417,621 to $39,917,621.
The Portage County Board in January rejected a similar referendum that, if passed, would have been held during the nonpartisan election in April. Board members said at the time that they would have preferred to have the referendum on the November ballot because they expected higher voter turnout in a partisan election.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at [email protected].
