Racine County Board expected to oppose sales tax for Milw. arena
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- The Racine County Board on Tuesday, August 13th made a declaration that basically says don't count on us! The Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution opposing any regional sales tax to finance a new sports arena in Milwaukee.
The vote was not in response to an official proposal, but rather, in response to rumors of one.
“The money is one part of the issue, but the other is why is it our responsibility? When people utilize our facilities we don’t expect them to foot the bill," Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig said.
Ladwig says no other county contributes to Racine's beach, museum, fairs, zoo and festivals, so he wants the County Board to approve a resolution opposing any regional sales tax to finance a new sports arena or convention center in Milwaukee.
"We are one of the few counties in the state that don’t have a county-wide sales tax. Well, our residents and I have a difficult time implementing a sales tax to pay for someone else’s stuff," Ladwig said.
County leaders say the Milwaukee Bucks have little economic impact in Racine, and point to foreclosures and unemployment in the city as reasons to vote against helping pay for an arena.
"I believe it`s very outrageous that in an economic time like this that they would even consider bringing us into their fold," Racine County Supervisor Daniel Sharkozy said.
County resident Bob Grady agrees.
“I think the professional sports should, if they want a new arena, they should pay for it themselves. They’re paying those people millions and millions of dollars and I think it’s unfair for the taxpayer in the surrounding region to have to foot that bill," Grady said.
If the tax is like the one-tenth of a percent, like the Miller Park Stadium tax, county resident Victoria Moore says it's not a big deal.
“I don’t know that it would really bother me. It’s not high on my priority list and I don’t really think about it. So, if I didn’t know about it I don’t think I’d even notice," Moore said.
Ladwig says a better idea for Milwaukee County would be to look for a solution within its boundaries, like a user fee.
“I’m more than happy if they want to charge me an additional fee: $3, $5 a ticket for being out of the county, I’m more than happy to pay that, but that ‘s a choice I make," Ladwig said.
The resolution also includes opposition to the extension of the "Miller Park Stadium Regional Tax" for purposes other than intended.
A task force is being formed to study potential funding sources.