State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) has a bill in the state Assembly that if passed would authorize Milwaukee County to create a property tax-reducing sales tax levy. Here’s the text of the bill:
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AN ACT to create 77.70 (2) of the statutes; relating to: a Milwaukee County sales and use tax for parks, recreation, and culture.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a county may impose a sales and use tax at the rate of 0.5 percent of the sales price of tangible personal property, goods, and services sold or used in the county. The county sales and use tax may be imposed only for the purpose of reducing the county’s property tax levy.
Under the bill, Milwaukee County may impose an additional sales and use tax at the rate of no more than 0.5 percent of the sales price of tangible personal property, goods, and services sold or used in the county in order to pay for parks, recreation, and culture. If the county imposes the tax, it may not levy property taxes for such purposes.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
77.70 (2) In addition to the taxes imposed under sub. (1), Milwaukee County may adopt an ordinance to impose a sales and use tax under this subchapter at the rate of no more than 0.5 percent of the sales price or purchase price in order to pay for parks, recreation, and culture. The taxes may be imposed only in their entirety. If Milwaukee County imposes the taxes under this subsection, it shall not levy property taxes to pay for parks, recreation, and culture. An ordinance adopted under this subsection shall be effective on January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1. A certified copy of the ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days prior to its effective date. The repeal of any such ordinance shall be effective on December 31. A certified copy of a repeal ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before the effective date of the repeal. (END)
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Here’s the PDF version of it: Rep. Sinicki Park Bill.
And that’s how it is today. We ask you to call your state representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support Rep. Sinicki’s bill.
Rep. Pedro Colón: (608) 267-7669
Rep. David Cullen: (608) 267-9836 or (888) 534-0013*
Rep. Jason Fields (608) 266-3756 or (888) 534-0011*
Rep. Tamara Grigsby: (608) 266-0645 or (888) 534-0018*
Rep. Mark Gundrum: (608) 267-5158 or (888) 534-0084*
Rep. Mark Honadel: (608) 266-0610 or (888) 534-0021*
Rep. Fred Kessler: (608) 266-5813 or (888) 534-0012*
Rep. Peggy Krusick: (608) 266-1733
Rep. Jim Ott: (608) 266-0486 or (888) 534-0023*
Rep. Jon Richards : (608) 266-0650 or (888) 534-0019*
Rep. Sandy Pasch: (608) 266-7671 or (888) 534-0022*
Rep. Tony Staskunas: (608) 266-0620 or (888) 534-0015*
Rep. Jeff Stone: (608) 266-8590 or (888) 534-0082
Rep. Barbara Toles: (608) 266-5580
Rep. Leah Vukmir: (608) 266-9180
Rep. Annette Polly Williams: (608) 266-0960
Rep. Leon Young: (608) 266-3786 or (888) 534-0016*
Rep. Josh Zepnick: (608) 266-1707
* Wisconsin calls only.
This is wonderful news indeed! Thanks, Jason, for sharing this, and many thanks to Rep. Sinicki for hearing our voices and putting Milwaukee County first.
I thought this was already voted upon by the People of Milwaukee County!!! And PASSED. But, OK, Rep. Sinicki, let’s do it… My Rep is Pedro Colon and I will call him…
Yes, we voted for it, and the ayes overwhelmed the nays. It wasn’t in the state budget until some last-minute lobbying got a sales tax increase added — but Gov. Doyle vetoed it. So it’s back to us and our reps. to make it happen — again!
The voters spoke in November lets save our parks now.
Bravo! Spencer Coggs is [ toll free ] (877) 474-2000 or
(608) 266-2500
# From the US Census Bureau The Tax Foundation, the State
Departments of Revenue and Taxation & Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway #
Community Name | Property Tax (as percentage of income) |Sales Tax
Milwaukee WI 5.9% 5.6%
Chicago IL 4.9% 10.25%
Detroit MI 4.4% 6.0%
Cleveland OH 4.3% 7.75%
Pittsburgh PA 4.2% 7.0%
Minneapolis MN 3.5% 7.4%
Cincinnati OH 3.2% 7.0%
St. Louis MO 2.7% 9.241%
Kansas City MO 2.7% 7.0%
Denver CO 2.0% 7.72%
SOURCE: http://www.milwaukeecounty.org/ImageLibrary/Groups/cntySupervisors/holloway/newsletters/NewsletterLH_2008w.pdf
Thanks for everyone’s support. Now the real work has to happen. I am going to need your help in getting this passed. Call your legislators, call your friends and relatives in other parts of the state and have them call their legislators.
Chris Sinicki
Hi All,
I got the new number for the Bill it is AB-504 this is the bill that this article is about. The Rules committee will hear it early in the week of 10-26-2009.
Dave