GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – We will find out Wednesday night if a half percent sales tax for Brown County will be set in motion.
The proposal goes before the County Board at 7pm at Green Bay City Hall.
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach expects his proposal will generate $147 million over six years to pay for multiple infrastructure projects.
County Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt says Streckenbach is cautiously optimistic his suggestions will pass.
“He’s made his case as clear and as grand as he could; holding the listening sessions, communicating with supervisors…if they had a question, answering those questions.”
Flynt says Streckenbach believes the vote comes down to a policy decision.
“Either do we fund these projects through a sales tax or do we fund it through raising people’s property taxes and bonding.”
The proposal would help pay for 8 infrastructure projects including replacing the aging Brown County Arena with a new expo hall.
Flynt says Streckenbach thinks there’s no need to delay these projects with a referendum, which some opponents have suggested.
“If we do put it to a referendum, it would be an advisory referendum. So, ultimately the County Board would still have to make a vote on this decision. The only thing that changes now would be the timing,” said Flynt.
The proposal was presented to the public 15 days ago.
If approved, the plan will be set to begin on January 1, 2018.
