Onalaska board approves 2026 capital improvement plan after removing two police vehicle items

The Onalaska Board of Public Works and Utilities on Nov. 4 approved the city's proposed 2026 capital improvement projects, after removing two police vehicle items that were purchased early and will be funded from the 2025 equipment replacement fund.

Mayor Kim Smith moved to approve the 2026 CIP as presented with the two items removed; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The two items removed were listed as PD26-1 ($175,600) and PD26-2 ($21,000), for a combined reduction of $196,600. With those deletions, the board recorded a general-fund impact of $2,673,300 for the proposed 2026 capital program.

Board members discussed the city's broader borrowing posture. Sabrina Steger noted mortgage revenue bond issuance and associated debt-issuance costs; other speakers said the city is committing funds to 2027 water and sanitary‑sewer projects (approximately $1.2 million). Jared Holter and City Administrator Rick Niemeyer urged caution about using general‑fund capacity now because of those commitments.

Steger said the police vehicles were moved to the equipment replacement fund in 2025; had the vehicles been purchased in 2026 the city would have brought forward a resolution to finance them in that year. Several members said they preferred to keep the general‑fund impact within the previously discussed comfort range.

The board's approval will be forwarded to the common council for final review and vote at the next council meeting.