Alderman Donovan urges GOP legislative leaders to use caution on sales tax ask
Media alert and letter from Alderman Bob Donovan
Alderman Bob Donovan sent a letter (attached) yesterday (Wednesday, September 11) to Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos urging them to “scrutinize very carefully the recent proposal (by Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele and others) to allow the communities within Milwaukee County to levy a one-percent sales tax.”
In the letter, Alderman Donovan asks that the sales tax measure be approved but urges that the enabling legislation “does as much as is possible to prevent the misuse of these funds by the administration of Mayor Barrett.” He states: “The truth of the matter is that I do not believe that this administration will properly manage this revenue or spend it on the real priorities of those I represent.”
Alderman Donovan, chair of the Public Safety and Health Committee, states in the letter that the Barrett Administration has diverted millions of federal dollars into the streetcar “and threatens now to pour millions of levy dollars into its continued operation”.
The alderman writes: “I do not know and I cannot speak to the politics and policies of the County Executive or the leaders of the many communities throughout Milwaukee County. For the City of Milwaukee, however, I ask that you do, indeed, provide the City the authority to impose this necessary tax, subject to ratification by referendum. I ask also, however, that you only do so in such a way that it cannot be mismanaged by an administration that has done little to earn my, or frankly your, trust.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the 1 Percent Sales Tax Proposal
- The State of Politics: The Debate Over Local Sales Taxes - Steven Walters - Feb 22nd, 2021
- Evers’ Budget Proposal Would Allow Milwaukee Sales Tax - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 12th, 2021
- WCA Applauds Governor Evers’ Sales Tax Option - Wisconsin Counties Association - Feb 12th, 2021
- MMAC Encourages Support for Evers Sales Tax Proposal - Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce - Feb 12th, 2021
- Gov. Evers Proposes Plan to Enhance Local Control, Bolster Local Communities’ Economic Recovery - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 12th, 2021
- The State of Politics: Milwaukee Leaders Plead for 1% Sales Tax - Steven Walters - Mar 16th, 2020
- County Sales Tax Legislation Gets Hearing - Graham Kilmer - Mar 5th, 2020
- ‘Fair Deal’ Sales Tax Referendum Blocked From April Ballot - Corrinne Hess - Jan 30th, 2020
- Transportation: Bauman Wants 1.5 Percent Sales Tax - Jeramey Jannene - Sep 26th, 2019
- Review Board to Discuss Recent Sales Tax Proposal and its impact on Public Transit - Ald. Bob Bauman - Sep 23rd, 2019
Read more about 1 Percent Sales Tax Proposal here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Bob Donovan
