ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Calling it an early “Christmas present”, Brown County’s 24 municipalities were presented checks Monday representing the excess Lambeau Field sales tax revenue.
The event, held at the Ashwaubenon Village Hall, involved 98 percent of the money ($17.4 million). State Representative David Steffen (R-Howard) said that the remainder is still being processed by the state, but when all is said and done the total will be about $17.7 million.
“That’s a game changing amount of money for these communities,” said Steffen. “It provides an incredible opportunity to reinvest in their communities.”
The checks were cut following the expiration of the half-percent sales tax in September.
“When the Lambeau tax was put on, everybody said it would never sunset. It sunset. When it went off, everybody said the money would just be used in the general black hole of government. It wasn’t. It was given back to the municipalities,” said Ashwaubenon Village President Mike Aubinger.
The Legislature passed the bill sponsored by Steffen, state Senator Robert Cowles (R-Allouez) and others. Gov. Scott Walker then signed it into law.
One-quarter of the money, about $4.35 million, was given to Brown County for redeveloping the Brown County Arena. The rest was given to the county’s municipalities, based on population, to be used for lowering property taxes, debt relief or for economic development.
“What a wonderful, wonderful Christmas present for all of the Brown County residents and the municipalities,” said Allouez Village President Randy Gast.
You can see how much money each community received by clicking here.
