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Candidates clash over Neenah borrowing, property taxes and Arrowhead Park at forum
Summary
At a League of Women Voters forum, incumbent Carrie Lendram and challenger Brian Deerting disagreed over city borrowing, the size of recent property tax increases, and whether development at Arrowhead Park should proceed before DNR clearance.
Incumbent Carrie Lendram, Neenah Common Council member, and challenger Brian Deerting debated city finances, development and public-safety priorities at a League of Women Voters forum on Tuesday.
Brian Deerting said Neenah is "borrowing over $20 million" and warned that the 6.1% property tax increase already in place is only "the first shoe dropping," arguing the city should slow major development projects and prioritize roads and public safety. He singled out plans for Arrowhead Park, saying the city has spent "over $3 million" preparing the site and still lacks DNR clearance, so it is too risky to proceed now.
"We need to put the brakes on developing over Arrowhead Park," Deerting said, adding that unresolved environmental and permitting questions — including required methane monitoring — create too many "what-ifs." He urged moving resources back to core infrastructure.
Carrie Lendram countered that recent capital projects — a rebuilt fire station, a police training center and shoreline restoration at Doty/Dodie Park — were necessary and drove much of the expense. Lendram disputed the 6.11% tax figure cited by her opponent and said the accurate increase in the budget she referenced is 3.65%, calling the higher figure "misinformation." She said the city should trim nonessential spending until debt is lowered, then reassess priorities.
Lendram also described Arrowhead Park as a "rare gift" deeded to the city with legally mandated environmental requirements and said the city must rely on outside counsel with environmental expertise to meet DNR conditions. "With that gift comes obligatory projects like specific grading, stormwater plan, [and] methane detection system," she said.
The exchange illustrated a clear contrast: Deerting emphasized fiscal caution and pausing large development until environmental clearances are secured, while Lendram defended past capital investments as necessary and characterized some of Deerting's figures as inaccurate.
Voters in Neenah District 1 are scheduled to cast ballots on Tuesday, April 7; the moderator noted Vote411 and local clerks as resources for early-voting information.
