Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer has used his veto pen to eliminate three amendments to the 2019 budget passed by the County Board on a 16 to 7 vote last week. The first is property taxes added for membership in Progress Lakeshore of $60 thousand. Ziegelbauer says this entity funded by several local governments that helps create and enhance economic development does not adhere to the state open meeting and records laws. They say business matters discussed can be sensitive in nature and must be kept confidential. The County Executive responds.
The second is property taxes added for membership in the Chamber of Commerce of $422.
The Third is property taxes added for I-pads for County Board Members of $9850.
Manitowoc County Board Chairman Jim Brey has called a special session of the County Board for November 26th at 6:30 to discuss and potentially override Ziegelbauer’s vetoes. Brey released a statement stating “These items were discussed thoroughly by the Finance Committee and then the County Board. The final budget was passed 16 to 7 with two absences. It might be tough to override the vetoes but I think we owe it to our constituents to at the very least discuss these.”
It’ll take a two-thirds majority—or 17 of the 25 supervisors—to vote yes to override Ziegelbauer’s Vetoes.