The Manitowoc County Board voted last night to approve a resolution to seek the State Attorney General’s opinion on the legality of a proposed half-percent County Sales Tax. Supervisors supported the resolution by 7 votes, 15-8 as explained by County Board Chairman Jim Brey. He also said that there were 2 absences, but he feels confident that “even though some might not agree with the sales tax, I think a lot of the Supervisors want to hear an opinion on the legality of the ordinance.”
County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer sent a letter to supervisors encouraging them not to approve the action, after the county’s corporation counsel gave an earlier opinion that excluding school districts in revenue disbursement from a sales tax, was probably not legal. Brey replied by saying that request came from Ziegelbauer. “The County Board had no say in that,” Brey explained. “The County Board has its right, and I strongly believe in that right, to request an opinion of our own, so we’re going the route of State Attorney General.”
Brey said following the vote he requested of Ziegelbauer that if he’s going to veto the resolution, to do so soon, so the board can move on to a potential over-ride. Supporters would need 17 yes votes to withstand a potential veto. The Ad Hoc Sales Tax Committee has recommended a 70/30% revenue split with 30-percent going to municipalities & no proceeds earmarked for school districts.
