APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – The Outagamie County Board has overturned the county executive’s veto, for a half-percent sales tax increase.
Tom Nelson said “no” to the plan last week. He believes it would lead to excessive county spending.
“We’re now paying a new sales, we’re not getting an expo center, we’re getting a stadium, we haven’t kept a major employer. Why did we do this?”
The county board says its own research shows the increase could raise $20 million next year.
Supporters plan to use some of that revenue to lower property taxes for Outagamie County residents.
It would also go to county improvement projects.
Public comment lasted nearly two hours before the board voted to override Nelson’s veto.
Jim March of Grand Chute says, “When I’m a visitor to 66 out of the 72 counties in Wisconsin, I pay a higher sales tax than I do here. I think these counties wisely collect sales tax from visitors to their county to help pay for the extra infrastructure that’s needed to accommodate those same visitors.”
Bill Recker of Appleton says, “This tax is estimated to generate $20 million in revenue and 25% is estimated to be paid for by non-residents. That’s all well and good, which means 75% or $15 million is going to be paid for by us.”
The sales tax can’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2020 at the earliest.
The sales tax increase would not take effect until January 1st, 2020 at the earliest.
