Proposal for sales tax in Winnebago County rejected

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - Plans to impose a .5% sales tax in Winnebago County have stalled, at least for now.

However, the county executive said Wednesday night that the potential for a tax could come up again, but only if it was used to fund very specific projects and future infrastructure needs.

For the past few weeks, the debate over a Winnebago County sales tax has escalated before the county board, ending with a resolution to draft an ordinance failing Tuesday night to get a second for consideration among supervisors.

“Honestly, I’m shocked this happened. I didn’t expect my fellow supervisors to remain quiet when the resolution was put on the floor. I’m happy no one said anything, so it would die, so the resolution could not move forward,” says Winnebago County Supervisor Rachael Dowling.

Dowling says the .5% sales tax would have been a hardship for working-class families, and since being proposed in August, the board has faced public pushback, with a lack of understanding over how that tax money would be used.

“My advice to the board has been we need to have a plan. It has to be detailed, and any consideration of a sales tax needs to take long-term county priorities and financing into consideration and really explain to the public if we’re really going to do it,” says Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz.

Right now, the county is one of only two in the state that don’t implement a .5% sales tax, on top of the state’s 5% sales tax.

Dowling says the timing of the vote was also a factor for fellow supervisors.

“Honestly, I think we’re getting too close to an election cycle. Paperwork for candidacy is taken out in October, and I think people are worried they want to maintain their seats,” says Dowling.

According to a previous presentation by the county, the tax would have meant an extra $100 per year for the average household, spending $20,000 in taxable purchases.

Since there was no vote last night, the issue can still be brought back, at a future date, if there’s support.

Action 2 News has reached out to the one supervisor who backed this resolution, Chuck Ferry, but so far, we haven’t heard back.