GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Monday morning press conference at Green Bay’s Neville Public Museum where various Brown County community leaders call on the county’s Taxpayers Association to drop a recently-filed lawsuit.
The suit alleges that the county’s newly-implemented half-percent sales tax is illegally being used to evade state levy limits.
County Executive Troy Streckenbach notes the tax is meant to help fund $147-million dollars in infrastructure projects, saying those efforts are exempt from the state formula for determining the levy.
“All of these projects, like roads, bridges, infrastructure, things that are not luxury items, these things were going to get paid for one way or the other. Do you want to continue to bond for these and pay large amounts of interest in the future or would we rather pay cash?”
Streckenbach believes the Taxpayers Association is harming Brown County residents.
“To pay $24-million dollars more in property taxes and over $40-million dollars in interest payments alone. It seems to me that this lawsuit is anti-taxpayer.”
County Board Chairman Patrick Moynihan claims the lawsuit goes against the Association’s guiding principles.
“The BCTA’s mission is to be fiscally responsible, transparent, and accountable to the people. The plan that was offered by the executive is exactly that.”
Greater Green Bay Chamber President Laurie Radke says the planned projects the tax would help fund are necessary to the clients she serves.
“The Chamber has about 1,200 members. Their success is dependent on the economic prosperity of this area. If we’re going to be competitive and attract business and retain business and attract talent, we must invest.”
County officials argue the 72-month tax will provide $6-million dollars in tax relief.
