The city is proposing to create a Tax Increment District (TID) #14 that encapsulates the majority of the Thrivent property on the north side of Appleton, about 500 acres.  The purported purpose of the TID is to "pay the costs of public infrastructure improvements and/or development incentives as determined by the city."  In so many ways, it is not good and right for the city or for you, the property taxpayers in the city. 

If Grand Chute will be significantly smaller in the future, due to annexations by Appleton, it calls into question the need for the size of the municipal complex expansion as planned today. A better solution would be to plan for the use of leased interim space to meet current space needs.

Wisconsin public schools now employ 1 adult for every 7 students, breaking the all-time record from 2025. Wisconsin public schools employ 113,171 staff in 2026. Unfortunately, Wisconsin educates just 791,794 public-school students, the fewest since 1991. Educating fewer students with more staff is a major cause of school referenda.

On October 21, 2025, several representatives of Appleton Concerned Taxpayers (ACT) met with Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford. We discussed several items of concern with respect to the city budget, including questions about wastewater and stormwater expenses in the 2026 budget and debt service increases. We also discussed the "Stop the Noise" project and other non-budget-related matters.

In the end, we agreed that we had different political views and that they wouldn’t sign my paperwork. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and shook hands. I left the conversation stating that this was why I had a Charlie Kirk sign. We were able to have a frank exchange of ideas, not get upset with each other and still part on good terms.

Legislating under divided government presents challenges, and while I am disappointed by the vetoing of many good public policy proposals, I am proud of the number of legislative accomplishments delivered this session. 

The Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) released Cases to Watch: Pending Cases. Lasting Consequences. Where Wisconsin’s Future Is Being Decided, on Thursday. The IRG Court Watch report examines the most consequential litigation currently pending before Wisconsin state courts and federal courts.