Wauwatosa officials say property owners could see tax increase after federal aid for public flooding damage denied

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- It's been nearly two weeks since President Trump denied Wisconsin's request for federal aid after August's historic flooding.

While Governor Tony Evers has appealed that decision, in Wauwatosa, officials are warning property owners they might see a tax hike next year.

"Without that money, it's going to hit harder on our local taxpayers," said Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride. "The federal government has the most resources and FEMA was set up to provide this kind of help at this time of catastrophe, so we're looking at the federal government to sustain our appeal and give us funding."

McBride said they were relying on those funds for help repairing public areas like Hart Park, which sustained major damage.

"For example, our softball field is totally ruined, and it'll cost $600,000 to a million dollars to restore that, and we'll have to have a conversation about whether or not we can afford to do that," McBride said. "We could borrow from ourselves, but then that means other projects aren't being done, so one way or the other, it's going to affect us."

Homeowner Pam Tatarowicz said her first reaction is, "That I'm sad it has to fall back on taxpayers."

"I feel the hurt, I feel the pain, so if I can do something in a small way, I'd be willing to help out," Tatarowicz said. "I love this community, and I'd hate for it to go on a downward spiral because we just can't get the support of organizations such as FEMA. That's what it's there for is to help people out."

Officials said they have received money, but it's not enough -- especially if the appeal is denied and state funding also doesn't come through.

"We've already paid the federal government; we've already invested in programs and services like FEMA to make sure we're getting the necessary resources to rebuild and get back to normal," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. "When the president announced we weren't going to get any public assistance, which helps to repair our roads, our bridges, our infrastructure, things that people utilize- like our parks, on an everyday basis, to focus on their physical health- it's heartbreaking."

If anything is put on a tax bill, it wouldn't be until 2026.

"So, it's hard to know how, exactly, it'll get spread out amongst taxpayers, but under state law, we can do a one-time boost to our tax levy, but everybody's pinched, so we'd rather not do that," McBride said. "It comes from taxpayers one way or the other. The question is, who's got the greater resources? If it falls on one community, that is more difficult."