A committee seeking approval of a half a percent sales tax for Manitowoc County wants to see State Attorney General Josh Kaul issue an opinion on its’ legality. Last night, the ad hoc Sales Tax Committee voted 6-1 to recommend passage of a resolution asking Kaul to rule on the county’s proposed sales tax. County board chairman Jim Brey is hopeful it leads to creation of an ordinance “…with distribution to the municipalities here in Manitowoc County.” The question remains whether they need to distribute some of the money brought in to the School Districts in the County. That is where AG Kaul comes in. Brey says he’s hopeful the resolution passes at the county board’s June 18th meeting, but “if an opinion does not come within two or so months of that meeting, we will, I guess, look at it again at that time.”
County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer has been adamant in opposition to a local sales tax. Brey says should the board approve the resolution and the county executive veto’s it, the county board would require 17 votes to override the action. Brey is optimistic he would be able to muster that support.
