Wisconsin Town Passes Referendum Targeting Data Center Construction

Port Washington voters approve measure requiring voter approval for large-scale projects receiving tax benefits

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:01am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone data server rack in a dimly lit room, the warm light filtering through the windows casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of contemplation and the tension between technology and community.A community's fight to have a voice in how tax dollars are used to support private development projects.Port Washington Today

Residents of Port Washington, Wisconsin have passed a referendum that will require future large-scale data center projects receiving tax benefits to secure approval from local voters before construction can begin. The measure, which passed with around 66% support, is the first of its kind in the nation and comes in response to the planned construction of a $458 million data center campus in the city that is set to receive significant tax incentives.

Why it matters

The referendum is a grassroots effort by Port Washington residents to have a direct say in how their tax dollars are used to support large-scale development projects. It highlights growing concerns among communities about the impact of resource-intensive data centers and the use of tax incentives to attract them, especially when residents feel they lack a meaningful voice in the process.

The details

The referendum requires that the approval of a tax incremental financing (TIF) benefit for any project with a base value or costs of more than $10 million be put to a vote in the Port Washington community. This comes in response to the planned construction of a data center campus in the city that is set to receive $458 million in tax benefits. Residents say the measure is about ensuring 'the people deserve a seat at the table when their tax dollars are on the line'.

  • On Tuesday, April 10, 2026, Port Washington residents voted on and passed the referendum.
  • The data center project that prompted the referendum is currently in the planning stages.

The players

Port Washington

A city located just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Great Lakes Neighbors Incorporated

A local advocacy group that supported the referendum effort.

Christine Le Jeune

A spokesperson for Great Lakes Neighbors Incorporated.

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What they’re saying

“Tonight, democracy worked the way it's supposed to. Over 1,000 residents signed the petition that put this measure on the ballot, and tonight Port Washington voters spoke with one clear voice. The people deserve a seat at the table when their tax dollars are on the line.”

— Christine Le Jeune, Spokesperson, Great Lakes Neighbors Incorporated

What’s next

The city of Port Washington will now need to implement the new referendum process for any future large-scale development projects seeking tax benefits.

The takeaway

The successful referendum in Port Washington demonstrates how local communities are increasingly asserting their right to have a direct say in the use of public funds to support private development projects, especially resource-intensive facilities like data centers. This grassroots effort could inspire similar measures in other communities grappling with the impacts of large-scale, tax-subsidized developments.