As promised, here is the text of the referendum the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted to approve last week:
Shall the State of Wisconsin grant Milwaukee County the authority to provide property tax relief of at least sixty-five million dollars ($65 million) by levying a one percent (1%) county sales and use tax to be used to removed the following three items from the property tax levy: parks recreation culture, transit and emergency medical services (EMS)?
YES
NO
Two developments since last week: County Executive Scott Walker has unsurprisingly said he’ll veto the measure, and County Supervisor Theo Libscomb has indicated his support for the measure. Sup. Libscomb’s support should give the County Board the votes they need to override Walker’s veto and let the people of Milwaukee County decide once and for all on this issue.
Ken Mobile has some relevant thoughts about our Supervisor, Lynne DeBruin, and her changing excuses over the past few years to block this initiative.
We’ll see whether she chooses to side with Scott Walker again, or if she’s got another excuse to block the people of Milwaukee County having their say when the override vote comes up in July.
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and sons Carter and Colton.
Hmm ” …to be used to removed…”
If this referendum passes, the Milwaukee County sales tax will increase to near 7%. There’s no way this tax cannot be considered regressive, especially for renters and those on a fixed income—even if food, shelter and medicines are exempted.
Saying it would be “near 7%” is taking some liberty. That’s like saying a gallon of gasoline is “near $5.00 a gallon”. I mean, I know it benefits your argument to round it as high as possible and all, but it’s not accurate.
As for groceries and medicine, they would be exempt. There’s no “if” about it.
I’m surprised you’re not looking at this from a property tax perspective. Under this plan, I’d be saving at least $175 next year on my property taxes which would represent a 5%, or “nearly 6%” if I round up, decrease in my property tax levy. That’s substantial.
Dan,
The current sales tax in Milwaukee is 5.85%*, so a 1% increase would bring it to 6.85% which is very close to 7%. Your real estate taxes might decrease by $175 but how much will you actually save (unless you buy all your clothing, appliances and electronics in Waukesha)? Too, your $175 in savings is partially subsidized by Milwaukee County renters.
* 5.00% state sales tax
0.50% county sales tax
0.25% Mil. Exposition Dist.
0.10% Stadium
Total: 5.85%
I think that’s right.
The sales tax is 5.6% in Milwaukee County. The 0.25% Exposition tax only applies to food and beverages, not general purchases. That’s the reason I took exception to the “Close to 6% comment”.
Dan,
Thanks for the update, I wasn’t sure about the application of the Exposition tax.
But I still think a sales tax increase is regressive, even with the exemptions.