City council president Dickinson on budget, city admin position, bars serving to underage

Ahead of the monthly meeting, La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio discussing the budget process — and shortfall — operations director vs. city administrator, liquor license approval and police reports on bars serving underage people, plus all the groundbreakings.

One other thing Dickinson brought up was something discussed by the Board of Public Works this week about shared utilities in places like duplexes, and how the city might help facilitate separating those things. 

On the budget, a few weeks ago, La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey said on WIZM the city had about a $3 million budget shortfall for 2026. Dickinson discusses that dilemma, as the council has about a month to approve next year’s budget. There is a 4 p.m. meeting Thursday on the operating budget at city hall, where the numbers could become more clear.

The council could also vote on an operations director, which is a similar plan to city administrator — and we talk about the differences even in just the process of getting info on those positions.

Lastly, we hit on groundbreakings, including the Haven on Main and the Grandview building — where Dickinson used to work — plus State Road Elementary on Wednesday.

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