Data Center Backlash: Port Washington Voters Approve Limits on Future Projects

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (Civic Media) – Voters in Port Washington overwhelmingly approved a citizen-driven referendum Tuesday that requires public approval for major future tax-increment financing districts.

Unofficial results showed the measure passing with 66.4% of the vote, or about 2,710 yes votes to 1,371 no, a margin of more than 1,300 ballots. Turnout reached nearly 51% of registered voters.

The referendum result means that any new tax incremental district (TID) exceeding $10 million will need voter approval.

It stemmed from a petition drive by the group Great Lakes Neighbors United. That group gathered more than 1,000 signatures after the city approved a $458 million TIF district to support a $15 billion data center campus being built for OpenAI and Oracle.

That project, already under construction, is not impacted by the new rule.

Business groups, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, had challenged the referendum in court, arguing its language was too restrictive and could deter future investment and growth.

The Great Lakes Neighbors United organization put out a statement saying it’s a win for transparency and community oversight.