Manitowoc County is getting a county sales tax.
The County Board of Supervisors voted 18-6 to approve the 0.5% sales tax last night to not only help stop the deficit in the Human Services Department but also to try and lower the property tax levy.
Finance Committee Chairman Biff Hansen explained that this option makes the most sense because it wouldn’t make sense to cut programs around the county or up property taxes by about 30%, which was discussed during a previous finance meeting.
The money won’t be spent foolishly, says Hansen.
“We can’t control what happens to that sales tax after tonight,” he explained. “We can control it as long as we have the same philosophy that we’ve had over the last 20 years to provide good service, to provide good things for the county, but not be extravagant in what we do.”
Supervisors in favor of the tax, like Jim Brey, explained that the tax will be paid more by people coming to the county and not as much by those living in the county.
Some members opposed the sales tax, such as 23rd District Supervisor Doug Klein, who voted no because he felt the county would collect more than it needed.
“We haven’t made any attempt to prevent this to be a perpetual tax,” he stated. “And I think it’s important that we make an attempt. Where does this taxing stop? Somebody has to put a stake in the ground and push back.”
He would ask to add a provision to sunset the tax by 2029, which also faced criticism. Some board members felt that sunsetting the tax would put Manitowoc County back in debt in the future.
Others felt the sunsetting the tax would prevent Manitowoc County from overreaching.
The motion to sunset the tax failed.
Following the vote, 11th District Supervisor Ryan Phipps explained why he was still against the tax and why finding solutions internally could be a good idea.
“I just think that we’re jumping the gun, and once it happens, it’s going to be stuck, like so many times we’re reminded,” he described. “And I think it is going to hurt the middle class to lower class people that do a lot of exchanges. You know, like the person that goes to Walmart and, you know, does a lot of exchanges.”
Now that the tax is passed, 12th District Supervisor Kevin Behnke explained that now the hard work comes with getting everything fixed.
The sales tax won’t take effect until January 1st, 2025.
