Letter: Council candidate shares ideas for Stevens Point

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To the Editor-

Hello, my name is Robert Larson. I am running for the Stevens Point 10th District alderperson position. If you’re OK with your property taxes continuing to rise, then you do not want to vote for me.

Please share this information below with others to allow more citizens to get to know me and my proposed changes.

Let’s discuss our property tax bills. Below are the last few years of my property taxes:

2022 — $2,581.95
2023 — $3,209.70
2024 — $3,366.53
2025 — $3,744.38

The effective property tax rate in Stevens Point is notably higher than the median rate for all of Wisconsin — 1.99% compared to the Wisconsin state median rate of around 1.58%.

If these property tax increases continue, people will be forced out of their homes by the high taxes.

Here are a few things I would advocate for if elected to the Stevens Point City Council.

I would recommend relocating the blinking stoplight from the intersection at Water Street and Nebel Street, near Ben Franklin Junior High, to the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Post Road. This intersection is dangerous with limited visibility due to the Post Road construction and the truck traffic coming from UPS.

Review the purpose for the Fourth Avenue and Division Street roundabout. Adding a left-turn signal at this Division Street intersection will address any safety concerns for pedestrians and would be more cost-effective for taxpayers.

McDill Pond is available for all citizens to use, and it contains two boat landings. I believe there are 166 homeowners who live on McDill Pond and already pay high property taxes. In addition, they also pay an annual special assessment to maintain McDill Pond even though it’s open to all citizens. These homeowners pay an additional $844.33 annually to maintain McDill Pond, which is unfair.

There are ways to fix this imbalance to help the people living on McDill Pond. One way is to adjust the wheel tax. Data from 2021 vehicle registrations in Portage County shows there are currently 72,880 vehicles registered. Portage County currently has a wheel tax in place. If an additional $1.93 is added to the current wheel tax, there would be no more special assessment for $844.33 for McDill Pond homeowners to pay annually.

There are currently three people, including me, running for the 10th District. This will require a primary, which will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Please go out and vote Feb. 17. I hope you will consider me as your alderperson, as we need change in our city.

Thank you for your consideration.

Robert Larson
City Council District 10 Candidate
Stevens Point