Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in De Pere, WI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues in taxes budget
2025 Tax Increment District performance and the 12% cap
The city's total tax increment hit 11.2% of equalized value, closing in on the state's 12% cap — at which point De Pere couldn't create any new TIDs. Several districts are projected to close with millions in surplus, but TID 7 is projected $2 million in the red.
2027 Employee Benefit Renewal
City employees' health insurance rates rise 6% in 2027 — below market trend of 8.5–12% — thanks to prior plan changes like Garner Health, which saved an estimated $320,000. Dental rates stay flat and orthodontic coverage extends to age 26 at no extra cost.
MSC Expansion Cost Growth
Bids for the MSC expansion were so favorable the city expects to bond $6-7 million less than anticipated. The board recommended the award to SMA Construction Services.
TIF district boundary amendments (Districts 9, 15, 17)
The council approved boundary amendments to three tax incremental financing districts, adjusting where the city can use TIF tools to support development.
2027 Budget Under Levy Limit Pressure
The state levy cap is 2.29% this year — below inflation and below what city operations actually cost. Staff still expects a balanced budget without cutting service quality, but the squeeze tightens every year. Budget study session is October 14.
Board of Review stipend increase
Citizen members of the Board of Review — the only compensated city board — will get their stipend raised from $35 to $85 per half-day session, or $150 for a full day, to reflect the going rate in other communities.
Classification and compensation study
The city is updating pay for about 103 non-represented employees using an outside study that found De Pere's pay plan already competitive. Implementation costs $88,415 and takes effect January 2, 2027, pending the 2027 budget.
Home Improvement Loan Program
Homeowners can now use the city's home improvement loan program for lead hazard fixes. The Health Department has mapped qualifying homes and will spread the word.
Property tax rescission on St. Norbert College parcel
The appraiser failed to remove a tax-exempt college parcel from the 2025 roll, so St. Norbert paid $2,637.02 it didn't owe. The committee approved the refund under the state's palpable error statute.
Youth Commission liaison term change
The city is changing the De Pere Youth Commission's alderperson liaison from a three-year term to a one-year term to match how other alderperson appointments work. Staff will also sweep other boards for similar inconsistencies.
Municipal code amendments on appointments and permit appeals
Code cleanups let the mayor appoint the youth commission liaison like other board appointments, add DNR-required waste collection language, and route food truck and solicitor permit appeals to the License Committee instead of the full council.
Weights and measures coverage after code enforcer resignation
The code enforcer who helped with fuel pump and scale inspections resigned in April. The health department is exploring contracting with an outside firm to keep those consumer-protection inspections going.
Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust v. City of De Pere
The council approved the Law Department's recommended action in the Walmart Real Estate lawsuit — details stayed out of open session.
2025 City Audit Results
The city earned a clean audit again. Its rainy-day fund is at $10.6 million — 46.7% of annual spending, way above the standard 15-25% band — and staff plans to spend some down, mostly on one-time capital items, as the 2027 budget is built. The water utility is slowly recovering thanks to the 2024 rate case.
2026 General Obligation Borrowing Plan (Series 2026A, B, C)
The city's 2026 borrowing list came in far below the roughly $40 million budgeted. This year's borrowing becomes next year's debt payment, and a Moody's credit rating review is set for July.
Beer garden revenue allocation
About $81,000 in past beer garden revenue will be spread across several park projects — roofs on both sides of the river, soccer goals, outdoor hockey rink kits, and an epoxy floor — rather than one big project.
Community Service Grant program transition
The small-grants program that has funded Eagle Scout projects, Riverwalk beautification, and similar efforts is getting new rules: De Pere-based applicants or in-city projects, preference for first-timers, and a shift to one annual award round of up to five $600 grants starting in 2027.
2026 Property Assessment Increases and Appeal Outcomes
Residential values jumped 8.24% citywide this year, and homeowners who felt left behind came before the Board of Review. The board cut two assessments but affirmed most values, leaning on the rule that a recent purchase price sets your assessment no matter what the neighbors' houses look like.
24/7 AI assistant for city questions
The city is contracting with Polimorphic for an AI service that answers common questions by phone, text, or web chat around the clock, in up to 30 languages. It should cut repetitive calls to on-call staff, and the city can cancel if it underperforms.
Stormwater fee shift to commercial properties
The city is updating how it calculates stormwater fees using modern GIS instead of 2005-era estimates. Homeowners see no change; big commercial and industrial parcels will pay roughly $1,000 more per million square feet of building.
De Pere Ice Arena finances and lease
The fourth amendment to the Brown County Ice Management lease adds weekly open skates October–February and shifts sponsorship/advertising leadership to the City. St. Norbert College hockey was dropped from the advisory board because it no longer uses the facility.
New city website provider (Govstack)
The current website provider is exiting, so the city is switching to Govstack for $15,204. Ald. Hansen got assurance the popular design will carry over in improved form.
Replacement of the city's financial and payroll software (ERP)
The city's 17-year-old INCODE system handles payroll, budgeting, accounts payable, and even building permits. The city is hiring BerryDunn to assess needs and run the RFP for a new ERP system, which could cost roughly half a million dollars to buy and implement later. Better reporting and transparency for alderpersons and departments is the promised payoff.