HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) – Returning excess revenue from the Brown County stadium sales tax which ends next month is the goal of a bill by a Howard lawmaker.
Republican State Rep. David Steffen introduced his bill Tuesday which would pay back over $17 million to communities in Brown County.
Last Friday, Steffen received the new fiscal estimate that indicates the amount of excess revenue Brown County and its subdivisions are likely to get from the 0.5% sales tax.
“This money is transformative, its game changing, and it provides a great opportunity for community leaders who are behind me and those throughout the communities to do some great things in coordination with the people,” Steffen said, according to FOX 11.
That half-percent sales tax has helped pay for Lambeau Field’s renovations and maintenance over the past 15 years.
The goal of that sales tax was reached at the end of March. However, the tax will continue to be in place until September and will generate the extra revenue that Steffen’s legislation deal with.
Steffen’s plan would see 25 percent of the money go to the county for redeveloping the aging Brown County Arena.
The remaining funds would be distributed to the county’s municipalities based on population. Those municipalities would have to use the money for either debt reduction or economic development.
Over the past 2 years, the stadium district board has been working on plans for that excess revenue. The board has yet to take a stance on Steffen’s plan.
His bill would still need to be passed by the full Legislature and signed by the governor.
