PORTAGE, Wis. -- The number of single-family homes in the city of Portage is far below the national average.

That's a statistic Portage's mayor, Ken Jahn, would like to change.

To promote new home construction, Jahn is proposing free building permits for those who apply.

That's music to the ears of local construction workers.

"We sold one lot last year and one lot the year before. Last year there was just one home built in our subdivision,” said Gunderson, president of Gunderson Construction.

Looking out over that subdivision, more than half of the availabile sites are vacant.

New home construction slowed remarkably during the recession throughout the city of Portage.

"Last year we only had four single-family housing starts in the city of Portage. A goal would be to at least double that. I'd like to see eight," said mayor Ken Jahn.

To help accomplish that goal, Jahn is proposing to eliminate costs associated with building permits for single-family homes.

Jahn said it would save a prospective homeowner more than $1,200 while creating construction jobs and bringing money back into the community.

"Anything that the city can do to help lower the entry-level cost of a new home is going to be a great benefit and incentive for a first-time home buyer," said Gunderson.

Lots sitting empty are essentially a waste for both developers and the city, since homes built on vacant property help to increase the tax base.

City officials say the tax base increase would help to offset the cost of giving away building permits.

"At most, it would be two years that we would get our money back on the inspection. After that point, of course, we're getting the taxes. I also look at it as helping the school districts, MATC, the county, and the state, because more building means more revenue for all of us," said Jahn.

The Portage City Council may vote on the proposal as early as Thursday if they feel that enough research has been done on the idea.

If the proposal passes, fees for building permits could be suspended immediately on at least on a trial basis.

"With the economic times that we have right now, we're going to all have to get more money out of growth. We're not going to get more money by charging the tax payers more," said Jahn.

City officials said they were not aware of other communities doing a similar program.