Announcing the Quality of Life Alliance - Dedicated to Passing the November 4th Sales Tax Referendum
UPDATE Nov 5th: WE WON! Read more about the win on November 4th!
I’m very excited to announce a group dedicated to improving Milwaukee County that I’ve been spending a lot of time and energy working with over the past month. 
The Quality of Life Alliance is a grassroots organization made up of elected officials, labor leaders, transit advocates, parks supporters, business men and women, and every day citizens who are deeply concerned about the future of Milwaukee County and all of Southeastern Wisconsin.
We’re going to be very clear and vocal in our efforts to refute the misinformation that County Exec. Scott Walker, his supporters on the County Board of Supervisors, and right wing radio hosts throughout Milwaukee have been spreading about the November 4th referendum for the last several months.
That said, here are some facts about the November 4th sales tax referendum:
- This is very real property tax relief. For every $150,000 of assessed home value, your property tax bill will go down by $170
- The $2.00 fare for a one way trip on a Milwaukee County bus is one of the highest in the nation. County Executive Scott Walker is now proposing to raise the fare for a one way bus ticket to $2.25 - a 12% increase!
- Milwaukee will not become a tax island. If this argument from opponents of the referendum were true, then why are cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Las Vegas and Phoenix all seeing massive growth? The “tax island” argument is nothing more than a scare tactic that has zero basis in economic reality.
- Milwaukee County is the only major metro are left in the Country that still relies on a property tax to fund it’s transit services.
Those are just a few of the facts that we’re going to be spending the next four weeks informing people about. You can find out more information and lend your support at the Quality of Life Alliance website.
Milwaukee County Politics, Politics, Transit | Dan Cody | 
October 8, 2008 7:55 am
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and son Carter.
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By Sean, October 8, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
Dan, let’s say your (and/or the counties) math is correct; a major concern that I have is what guards are in place to ensure that the government won’t increase my property taxes after this passes?!!?! I think I know the answer, but I want to hear it from you. In that same vain, didn’t we increase the sales tax back in 1991 under the same auspices (property tax relief) just to have those same property tax levies go up 55% the next 10 years?
By capper, October 9, 2008 @ 12:07 am
Sean, did you know that Walker, who claims to have never introduced a budget that raises taxes, just submitted a budget proposal that is 14% higher than his first one? Amazingly, people believe him.
By Bruno Wolff III, October 9, 2008 @ 11:14 am
I still feel a sales tax targeted to only some county services is a sign that elected officials aren’t willing to properly do their job.
I can see arguments why some of the county’s budget should come from a sales tax in addition to the property tax and any revenue sharing from the state, but I am probably going to vote against this admendment.
By Sean, October 10, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
capper, what does that have to do with 1) this post and 2) my questions?
By Go Celtics, October 10, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Sean, your question is a good one. However, it’s one that can’t really be answered by this referendum, since it’s advisory.
In theory, the best protection would be for the State to mandate that property taxes go down for this to take effect. Barring that, if the State permitted it, it would be up to the Board and the Executive to do the quid pro quo.
But I look at it from the perspective that that’s another battle to be fought later. For now we need to decide if this is a good idea, and frankly it is.
By Dan Cody, October 11, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
Bruno, why would you vote against it exactly though?