The City of Manitowoc has given its annual Christmas gift to its residents, and many would have preferred the coal.
One resident sent a copy of their tax bill to Seehafer News, and the numbers are leaving some residents shocked.
The total increase was 17.2%, which, after the First Dollar and Lottery and Gaming Credit, is a net increase of 14.1%.
The increase is a bit of a surprise to some, as back in September, after properties were reassessed, Mayor Justin Nickels stated bluntly, “Assessments of your property do not translate to tax increases.”
The way the increase breaks down is there was a 46.4% increase in “Schedule D of Manitowoc” while the City of Manitowoc increased 8.1%, Lakeshore Technical Collage is up 5%, and Manitowoc County rose 4.1%.
We reached out to Manitowoc City Treasurer Mackenzie Reed, who explained what “Schedule D of Manitowoc” is exactly.
“That’s the school district,” she explained. “Those numbers reflect the recent referendums.”
Also of note in regard to that referendum, the approval of it allowed the MPSD to spend $5.2 million above the state-imposed revenue cap in the 2023-24 school year, but also $11 million the following school year, then $13 million, $15 million, and $17.5 million in the 2027-28 school year.
While the tax increase was approved by the Common Council, there were two members who did not vote in favor of it.
They were District 1 Alder Brett Vanderkin and District 10’s Todd Recklelburg.
“One of the things that me and (Todd Recklelburg) looked at was potentially using the sale of the Visitor Center, that land property, in order to reduce some of the tax levy and the tax burden on the taxpayers,” Vanderkin explained. “(The rest of the council) wanted to use all the funds from the Visitor Center and Room Taxes, 100% for tourism purposes.”
Mayor Justin Nickels is slated to be on WOMT’s Be My Guest Program this morning (December 18th) from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Host Lee Douglas will take calls and texts on the Shoreline Talk and Text line, 920-682-4674.
