Milwaukee County voters will get a chance to weigh in on the November ballot on whether the sales tax should be raised by one cent to fund transit projects and park improvements and provide property tax relief.
The county board overrode a veto of the ballot measure by county Executive Scott Walker. He has proposed that the county look at a long-term lease of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport to fund transit projects instead. The referendum is advisory only.
Milwaukee County currently collects a 0.5% sales tax. The ballot request would increase it to 1.5%, increasing the current $65 million collected annually to nearly $195 million. Wisconsin collects a 5% sales tax, and a 0.1% sales tax is levied in the county to fund the new Milwaukee Brewers baseball stadium.
The county board has proposed using about $67 million from the increased tax to offset property taxes. Supporters of the tax on the board have said they would not pursue the tax increase if voters reject it. State legislative approval would also be needed.
