Mason Outlines Push for Lower Taxes, New Trains and Pipe Replacements

RACINE, WI (WRJN) — Racine Mayor Cory Mason says the city is heading into spring with major work ahead on taxes, trains, travel and aging pipes. Mason appeared for his monthly check-in on The Don Rosen Show this morning. Listen to it here.

Property Tax Relief Push

Mason said he met up with Gov. Tony Evers in Racine this week. There was a round-table discussion about a plan from Evers that would use part of the state’s surplus to ease recent spikes in property tax bills. The mayor blamed higher bills in part on past state budgets that let school districts raise more money only by increasing local property taxes instead of getting more state aid. He said he hopes lawmakers can reach a bipartisan deal before they adjourn for the year, either by sending more money directly to schools or offering some form of tax assistance to homeowners.

Lead Pipe Replacement

The mayor talked about the $40 million federal grant for Racine to replace lead service lines. He said there are still about 12,000 households left with lead pipes. Work is set to start this summer in a roughly 12‑block area just north of the Root River near Main Street, with a five‑year schedule to remove all remaining lead lines.

Crews will work a few streets at a time, and some blocks will see only small trenches while others require full main and lateral replacement. There will be no direct cost to homeowners, and the city plans to use buses to help residents with disabilities reach their homes during construction.

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MARK Rail Planning

Mason expanded on the effort between Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee, who have formed the Milwaukee Area–Racine–Kenosha commission to pursue new passenger rail service on the existing Union Pacific corridor. The plan would extend Metra-style trains from Kenosha north with stops in Racine, near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Cudahy, and in downtown Milwaukee. Mason brought some news, saying that the City of Cudahy recently signed on to the deal.

Sister City Exchange, Y Site

Mason encouraged Racine high school students in grades 9–11 to apply for a week-long summer exchange in Oiso, Japan, the city’s longtime sister city on the Pacific coast southwest of Tokyo. Applications are available through the city’s Facebook page, the mayor’s office and the Racine Sister City website, he said.

The mayor also said the city plans this spring to seek development proposals for the cleared former YMCA site on Lake Avenue, where the city expects housing overlooking Lake Michigan. He called it one of Racine’s best remaining redevelopment sites and said all remnants of the old building and parking lots have been removed.