Business and Job Growth Needed in Lake Geneva
Well-planned growth is essential for the long-term well being of any community – including Lake Geneva. There is a group of residents who say, “We are here! We like it here! Don’t add or change anything, I’m happy with Lake Geneva as it is!” No community stays as it is. Let’s look at this theory and see why it needs to be challenged.
The Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation (LGEDC) believes it is essential for our community to have WELL-PLANNED GROWTH to sustain both, one, an expanding tax base, and, two, employment growth. Yes – we have Geneva Lake - but without these growth factors our community will look like many others we see throughout the state and nation – run down housing, empty businesses and schools struggling to fill basic student needs all because of dwindling personal income and rising tax rates. Expanding these two basics are among the LGEDC goals adopted in 1981.
Why is tax base expansion essential? The current City of Lake Geneva general budget totals $7.8 million, up from $6.7 million in 2007. Due to continued inflation and the added requests and requirements for municipal services this budget will do nothing but expand and grow as it has in the past. Local officials will do everything they can to control this but budgets are bound to grow. We don’t want Lake Geneva to be among those laying off essential employees or declaring bankruptcy. This trend is true of our personal and business budgets as well.
If municipal and school budgets expand without added tax base all current residents and businesses will have substantial tax rate increases driving our costs higher. Eventually they will force us to put up personal or commercial “Out of Business” signs - we go away – and the City, as we know it, falls apart. None of us wants these results.
The basic way to expand the tax base, without having to provide a wide variety of added municipal services, is to add to the number of businesses here in Lake Geneva or assist in the expansion of those now here. The Lake Geneva Business Park, established by LGEDC, is a great example of this. Another smaller, but effective example, is the addition of Servpro of Lake Geneva on the former Wisconsin Southern Gas property on Sheridan Springs Road. We also have a variety of recent commercial business openings in the City. All are positives.
Employment growth is essential to bring added income to the local work force. One of the current employment problems, here and in the nation, is that manufacturing and tech firms are adding more high tech equipment to become more efficient. They are doing the work of three or four people with one. Thus fewer jobs with higher
skill requirements. Many are also increasing their export business, which demands that employees have skills to deal on a regular basis with people around the world. Today’s employees need different and growing skills.
More new and/or growth organizations can help solve these problems but it really takes the whole community. LGEDC has been working on these goals, with some success, since 1981. It will take, however, the total community to accomplish them as time goes by. County and City officials, as well as school officials at all levels, must support this growth if it is to occur.
Residents must recognize the problems ahead and be willing to assist in their solution. How? Talk to friends and neighbors about these needs of our community. Encourage those starting businesses to look at Lake Geneva. Urge your elected officials –local, county and school – to support agencies that are promoting economic development. Join organizations that are encouraging civic growth. This and other support will help us grow positively into the future.