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Communities that hesitate fall behind.
Communities that invest strategically create momentum and resilience.
At its February 16, 2026 meeting, the City Council made a forward-thinking decision, choosing to invest in our infrastructure and neighborhoods. That decision reflects leadership. It reflects confidence. And it positions Two Rivers for long-term economic leverage and competitive strength.
Investing in infrastructure is more than just maintenance of things we own, it is an investment in opportunity. For Two Rivers, it is about creating momentum. We're not just fixing what’s broken, but strengthening the foundation so our community can grow with confidence for decades to come.
Here is the 2026 list of capital borrowing projects: 2026 Community Investment Plan
City Fact: Two Rivers retired approximately $2.6 million in existing general obligation debt in 2025 and will retire an additional $2.7 million in 2026. Our debt load is actually decreasing over time.
A few weeks ago, the Council adopted a new Responsible Capital Funding Policy that modernizes how we approach borrowing for community investment. Rather than relying on a static fixed dollar amount that does not adjust over time ($2 million in this case), annual borrowing levels are now tied directly to growth in equalized property values. As our community grows and matures, our capital capacity adjusts responsibly with it.
This is similar to a credit card limit being higher for a 40-year-old professional compared to a 20-year old college students: as income and credit history both improve, credit limits increase, allowing us to invest in the future. City governments are similar.
This approach preserves fiscal discipline, keeps debt well below self-imposed limits, and ensures our investments remain sustainable, predictable, and aligned with the community’s long-term financial capacity.
At the same time, the City has reaffirmed its long-standing conservative debt cap policy. While Wisconsin law allows municipalities to borrow up to 5% of equalized value, Two Rivers has committed to limiting general obligation debt to no more than 60% of that legal limit and historically we have remained even more conservative, generally in the 30–40% range.
City Fact: 98% of our outstanding general obligation debt is scheduled to be repaid within ten years. That is not accidental. It is intentional discipline.
Infrastructure is far more than maintenance. It is the foundation that allows us to attract development, support local businesses, protect property values, and respond confidently when opportunity arrives.
Communities that hesitate fall behind. Communities that invest strategically create momentum and resilience. Two Rivers is choosing momentum with discipline.
The City is choosing to lead, to invest wisely, and to think long-term rather than defer infrastructure invesment and hope for the best. The work we are doing today strengthens our foundation for decades to come.
The best days of Two Rivers are still ahead.
-City Manager Kyle Kordell
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