Council weighs response to 2025 tax increases; members favor explanatory video and possible public session

Residents and council members spent a substantial portion of the Jan. 14 meeting discussing the 2025 property tax bills and how the city should respond to taxpayer questions and complaints.

Mary Callan, a resident and treasurer of the Village Lane Condo Association, told the council her city taxes rose $542 (about a 19.6% increase in her city taxes) and urged officials to justify how tax dollars are being spent. “My property taxes went up $542, which was a 19.6% increase in my city taxes,” Callan said, and she raised concerns about debt service and recent city purchases described in local media.

Earlier in the public‑comment period, a speaker identified as TJ urged the council to direct the police department to refuse sharing information with ICE and to protect immigrant community members. “I urge you to clearly direct our police department, including every officer in our schools, not to share information with ICE or with federal officers,” TJ said.

Council members responded at length to Callan and others by debating next steps for public outreach and education. Council Member Eslinger proposed a special public meeting here in council chambers so residents could ask questions and council/staff could explain how the tax bills were calculated. He and several other members described the recent tax outcome as a “perfect storm” of factors that led to larger bills for some homeowners.

There was no council consensus to immediately schedule a special meeting. Several members supported producing an explanatory video and a robust FAQ that would be distributed to taxpayers and posted online; Council Member Nichols specifically suggested an Oshkosh Media‑produced video that could be linked from tax bills. Council Member Larson urged that any new video be custom to Oshkosh rather than borrowed material.

Interim city staff explained they had created FAQs and other materials and were preparing outreach; the interim manager said staff were willing to develop materials and meet with the school district and other partners on related topics. Several council members also said they would pursue advocacy with state legislators because the state rules governing assessment and taxation shape how municipal property taxes are calculated.

Council members emphasized that a public session would be for information and not a mechanism to change finalized tax bills. “We cannot, a person coming here is it's not gonna reduce their taxes,” one council member said, noting that assessment and levy timelines limit immediate remedies.

No formal motion to hold a special meeting or to adopt a specific outreach product was passed during the Jan. 14 meeting; members agreed to continue the discussion and to involve the mayor and incoming city manager in deciding format and timing.

The council also discussed related process questions about how council members place items on future agendas and requested clearer written guidance so new and returning members understand procedures for bringing topics forward.