Port Washington TID referendum: What to know ahead of April 7 vote

Port Washington, Wisconsin, residents are preparing for an April 7 referendum that could grant voters the power to approve large tax incremental financing districts (TIDs) in future elections. This measure was prompted by the city's August approval of a $458 million TIF for Vantage's $15 billion Lighthouse data center project, a development intended to be part of OpenAI’s Stargate expansion, which faced significant public criticism. The referendum, proposed by the citizen-led group Great Lakes Neighbors United, seeks to give residents a vote on TIDs exceeding $10 million in value or project costs. While a "yes" vote would establish this new power for future projects, it would not impact the already-approved TIF for the Vantage data center. Business organizations, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), challenged the referendum in court, arguing it conflicts with state law and would harm economic development. MMAC President and CEO Dale Kooyenga stated such a measure would set a "dangerous precedent." Although a judge denied MMAC's request for an injunction to stop the ballot measure, the case could resume if the referendum passes. The Lighthouse project, which entails four data centers on 500 acres, has sparked concerns over potential increases in residential power rates due to new high-power transmission lines, environmental impacts, and the destruction of the area's rural character. Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke supports the development, emphasizing its potential to bolster the city's budget and fund essential services. Similar opposition has been noted against a site Microsoft considered in Caledonia, reflecting broader national concerns about the economic and environmental costs of the data center boom, as highlighted by a Marquette Law School survey.