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    • Manitowoc County: 0.5% sales tax triggers anger and outrage among readers
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    Manitowoc County: 0.5% sales tax triggers anger and outrage among readers

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

    “I hate that they can’t stick to their budgets and we have to pay for it,” wrote James Greicar.

    MANITOWOC – More than a dozen Manitowoc County residents have expressed their anger over the new 0.5% statewide sales tax that is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

    On August 5, the Herald Times Reporter asked readers what they thought about the 0.5% statewide sales tax. We received more than a dozen emails in response to our question and several comments on Facebook.

    All but one expressed anger over the sales tax. Mary Meisner of Manitowoc wrote that she was glad the county chose to implement the sales tax rather than raise property taxes.

    The remaining respondents stated that the sales tax would harm them and other residents of the district.

    “I think it’s terrible that they can’t meet their budgets and we have to pay for it,” wrote James Greicar. “Cut the other districts’ budgets to make up the difference and then go from there like we all do with this inflation.”

    Jamie White of Manitowoc said the sales tax increase was “a joke.”

    White wrote, “There are many better things for this county, or any county, state, or country, to do than to tax hard-working people who have to manage their finances properly to be financially healthy. Because unlike the government, the average citizen can only make extra money by taking another job and paying extra taxes on it.”

    Chris Engelbrecht of Manitowoc expressed concern because taxpayers were already paying “enough.”

    “I believe if we want to grow, we need to lower taxes across the board, not raise them,” he said. “We shouldn’t penalize property owners. They can’t afford that or anything else.”

    Sales tax affects any person, resident or visitor, who purchases goods or services in Manitowoc County, not just property owners.

    Dig deeper: What a new 0.5% sales tax in Manitowoc County costs and when it goes into effect

    Some readers shared their comments on the Herald Times Reporter’s Facebook page.

    Adam Walters wrote in a Facebook comment: “Sounds like leadership needs to work harder to balance the budget instead of raising taxes to push their citizens further into debt with their frivolous spending habits.”

    Kriz Hades Randall wrote that Manitowoc seems less and less affordable given the ever-increasing taxes and cost of living.

    Not all commentators on Facebook were against the sales tax.

    Julie Kay wrote: “It’s time for Manitowoc to catch up with the rest of Wisconsin, we’re always lagging behind.”

    “Real patriots fund their government,” Mary Tooley also wrote in a Facebook comment.

    The 0.5% sales tax is in addition to the 5% sales tax the state collects on every purchase of goods and services. Manitowoc County joins 68 other counties in Wisconsin that have also adopted a 0.5% sales tax.

    District council approves 0.5% sales tax: Manitowoc County is adopting a 0.5% sales tax, joining 68 other Wisconsin counties. Here’s when it goes into effect.

    In a July 17 letter to the Herald Times reporter, County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer said Manitowoc County needs the estimated $7 million to $9 million in revenue generated by the tax.

    The reason is a multimillion-dollar deficit in the county’s Human Services Department budget. Ziegelbauer said the budget has increased 60%, from $20 million to $32 million, in just four years, and the county’s revenues have not kept pace with that growth.

    “This (the sales tax) will solve our deficit problem,” he wrote. “I take the blame for that. I was probably too aggressive about ‘holding’ property taxes, but inflation and rising demand have caught up with us.”

    He continued: “As I regularly say in my budget letters to the County Council, ‘Our mission is to continue to deliver high quality services efficiently while charging taxpayers as little as possible.’ I remain committed to that goal going forward.”

    Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. You can reach her by email at [email protected].

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