To the Wausau City Council and Mayor Diny Administration,

We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of Wausau, recognize the serious issues recently brought to light and express our deep concern and urgently call upon the City Council and Mayor Diny to address these critical issues that demand immediate attention:

·      Discrepancies in accounts  

·      Inter-departmental miscommunications  

·      Personnel matters  

·      Transparency deficits  

·      Motor pool fleet study done in 2021 – recommendations not followed

·      Water utility ran on general fund while waiting for reimbursement

·      Excessive borrowing leading to significant increased city debt  

These challenges have undermined the trust and efficiency expected by Wausau taxpaying citizens. We believe these issues can no longer be ignored and cannot continue unchecked without risking further harm to our community’s financial health and trust in local government.

A systemic audit involves a thorough examination of an organization’s systems to understand current operations, highlight inefficiencies, and pinpoint opportunities for sustainable change. Wausau taxpayers deserve a complete, unbiased understanding of how city resources are managed, how decisions are implemented, and whether internal controls and municipal best practices are being followed consistently across all departments.

These longstanding problems have persisted through multiple administrations. Therefore, we are requesting the audit time frame be at least a minimum of 12 years. If something is revealed in an audit that requires an additional lookback period, the systemic audit should be allowed to go back in records as far as necessary.

·      Tipple Administration (2004–2016),

·      Mielke Administration (2016–2020),

·      Rosenberg Administration (2020–2024),

·      Diny Administration (2024–Present)

These long-standing problems cannot continue unresolved.

We demand a systemic thorough and impartial audit of every facet of city operations. While the audit may initially be challenging and reveal uncomfortable truths, it is essential for identifying root causes, a necessary step toward healing our community and addressing these critical issues, implementing effective solutions and laying the groundwork for meaningful reform. The insights gained will strengthen Wausau’s governance, improve city services, and secure our city’s stability and future prosperity.

We propose appointing an external Audit Manager to oversee this entire process, reporting directly to the City Council. Additionally, each department would benefit from specialized external independent auditor firms. For instance, companies like Mercury Associates could handle Motor Fleet audits, engineer auditors could assess the Department of Public Works, and finance experts could examine the Finance Department, etc. This specialized approach could expedite the audit process considerably.

The benefits of such an audit are profound. It will provide valuable insights into areas needing improvement while reinforcing the strengths of our city, assurance of transparency and accountability. This initiative is crucial to securing Wausau’s financial stability and ensuring a prosperous future for all residents and future generations.

Funding for this systemic audit could justifiably come from general reserves due to its critical nature. Ensuring insights into Wausau’s current status is imperative.

Transparency throughout the auditing process is essential. Regular reports should be provided directly to the full City Council along the way and made publicly accessible, avoiding closed sessions. Taxpayers have a right to comprehensive and unaltered information, ensuring accountability.

Living standards in Wausau are deteriorating, creating affordability challenges even for middle-income households. Our community is at a breaking point; timely intervention is essential. A comprehensive, independent audit is a practical and necessary step toward restoring public trust, improving performance, and ensuring city government is operating effectively and responsibly for the people it serves.

We stand united in demanding transparency, responsibility, and action to safeguard the future of our city. We call on our elected officials to prioritize this initiative to act decisively and collaborate with taxpayers to initiate this systemic comprehensive audit immediately.

We ask all residents who care about Wausau’s future to support this petition for a systemic comprehensive audit. Thank you for being part of the solution!