Now Signed, Amended Legislation for Milwaukee’s Fiscal Health is an Opportunity for Property Tax Relief; Commended by Supervisors Burgelis, Logsdon
MILWAUKEE – Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, Supervisor Patti Logsdon, Supervisor Steve F. Taylor, and Supervisor Peter Burgelis co-authored an amendment to Resolution 23-719, legislation enacting an additional 0.4% county sales and use tax. The amendment—approved on a 17-1 vote—contains several measures related to fiscal transparency and accountability in Milwaukee County government, including a reduced property tax levy and an increase to both transit and parks funding. Supervisors Burgelis and Logsdon made the following statements:
“We successfully amended the 0.4% sales tax resolution to ensure fiscal responsibility and address priorities our residents demand. We asked the public to contribute more to prevent the County’s insolvency. It is elected Supervisors’ duty to be accountable and prudently manage these valuable tax dollars. Our amendment makes the priorities of our constituents clear, and I look forward to a proposed budget from the County Executive that reflects those priorities,” said Supervisor Burgelis.
“As Supervisors, we are committed to upholding Milwaukee County residents’ interests. Our intention is to ensure efficient tax management, with transparency and fiscal responsibility at the forefront. We pledge to adhere to our clearly outlined objectives and aim for strategic use of county reserves to lessen the tax levy and aid capital infrastructure needs approved by the Board,” said Supervisor Logsdon. “We will remain watchful, scrutinizing every step of this initiative to ascertain that our commitments to the people of Milwaukee County are met.”
The approved amended legislation was made possible by the enactment of 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, which authorized Milwaukee County to implement a 0.4% sales tax increase. The tax will sunset when Milwaukee County has paid off its unfunded pension liabilities, or after 30 years, whichever comes first.
Director Joseph Lamers with the Milwaukee County Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance currently estimates that the pension liability will be paid off in 15 to 20 years.
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 15-3 to approve Resolution 23-719. County Executive Crowley is expected to publish his proposed 2024 budget by the end of September.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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