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Candidates highlight $15 million backlog and link capital projects to revenue strategy
Summary
In the Ward 3 forum both candidates discussed the city’s deferred maintenance and capital projects. Incumbent Michael Gasper identified about $15 million in deferred maintenance and said the city is pursuing grants and potential new revenue sources to avoid recurring borrowing.
Port Washington’s capital needs and long-term budgeting were a persistent theme at the March 13 Ward 3 forum. Incumbent Alderman Michael Gasper described a sizable deferred-maintenance backlog and tied future projects to new revenue sources.
Gasper said the city has about $15,000,000 of deferred maintenance across facilities and argued the city should avoid repeated annual borrowing. He said some capital needs are unavoidable — citing multi-year work on the water treatment plant — and that new revenue sources such as a data center would help finance items like a new public-safety center and backlog repairs.
Why it matters: Candidates framed fiscal strategy as central to the city’s future. How Port Washington recovers and funds capital work affects reserves, tax levels and the timing of infrastructure projects.
Details mentioned in the forum
- Deferred maintenance: Gasper stated the city faces “$15,000,000 of deferred maintenance on various facilities.” - Water treatment plant: Both candidates referenced recent water-plant improvements, including a “500,000 gallon tank” and other upgrades described by Schwalbe as corrective work the DNR required. - Police and fire: Gasper said the new public-safety center will require borrowing and pointed to the public-safety project as a needed investment that the city must fund responsibly.
Candidates’ fiscal approaches
Gasper emphasized using large-value, low-service-demand developments to increase valuation and revenue while maintaining reserve funds. Schwalbe said his finance background would help him evaluate proposals and ensure the community is not subsidizing private projects at public expense.
No formal fiscal actions or bond proposals were voted on during the forum; both candidates described options and trade-offs that would be subject to future council decisions.
