LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Mayor Matt Harter has used his veto pen to halt a development agreement between the city and Kwik Trip.
In his veto, sent to members of the Common Council, Mayor Harter stated "It is not in the best interest of society for our government to grant subsidies to private projects, large or small."
The Mayor says the veto is not a 'vote of no confidence' in Kwik Trip. He says he supports the expansion, but does not want to use city money to fund it.
"When it comes to us specifically giving tax money back or cutting tax breaks that we're not doing for others, that's a tough thing for me to go along with because where do we draw the line?" Harter said. "Do we stop at large companies? Or people that are developing in the city that are putting a residential home on a vacant lot? That's adding to our tax base, should we give them a little bit back?"
The mayor says he has submitted a plan to the common council that would set a standard policy.
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter has called a late Tuesday afternoon news conference to announce his whether he'll support a special tax district project that would allow Kwik Trip to expand their business.
The company is looking to increase the size of their dairy and to add a 30,000 square foot freezer for their bakery. The expansions would be at their facility in the La Crosse Industrial Park on the north side.
Kwik Trip management asked the city to create a TIF, or tax incremental financing, district to help pay for costs associated with the expansion.
The La Crosse City Council approved the proposal 16-0 last week.
Mayor Harter says that while he supports the Kwik Trip expansion, he's opposed to using TIF money for private companies.
We'll have more on this developing story on Live at Five and on the 6pm and 10pm Reports.
