The Manitowoc County Board voted 18-to-5 last night to ‘override’ County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer’s veto of the Dark Store Loophole. Ziegelbauer had this reaction for Seehafer News this morning.
Audio PlayerThe county executive explained he vetoed it initially because, in his opinion, “nobody understands the issue.”
Audio PlayerZiegelbauer added, the advisory referendum in November estimated to cost $7500, is a waste of money. Meanwhile, Mayor Justin Nickels issued a statement yesterday saying, “Since 2008, the city of Manitowoc has spent nearly $115,000 on legal costs associated with the dark store loophole” he continued, “Manitowoc footed this legal bill which ultimately helps all the taxing jurisdictions. If we wouldn’t have fought these and the large box-stores would have gotten the assessment they originally asked for, all of our taxing entities would have had to shift those costs to the homeowners & small business owners. That’s not fair and is why we are asking to let the voices of Manitowoc County citizens be heard through the referendum question.” County supervisor John Brunner said the goal here is to allow the public to tell legislators in Madison this tax code must be modified. As Brunner argued at last night’s meeting, If it isn’t changed more and more large businesses of all types will be able to unfairly reduce the assessment on their property, thereby reducing their property tax liability, shifting those costs to residential and small business owners.
