GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Brown County’s sales tax, which has been used to fund projects like the Resch Expo, will be under the microscope of the state Supreme Court this year.
The court has agreed to hear the legal challenge against the tax brought by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. That group argues that the sales tax is being used illegally as sales tax dollars can only be used to reduce the property tax levy.
“Unfortunately Brown County is not using its sales tax to directly reduce the property tax levy,” said Deputy Counsel Anthony LoCoco. “It’s using it to fund $147 million worth of brand new spending.”
Brown County Circuit Court upheld the 0.5% sales tax last year.
“Brown County’s position is that in the absence of the sales tax, it would have used property tax revenues, and therefore they’ve directly reduced their property tax levy,” explained LoCoco. “Our response to that is that what they’re really talking about is avoiding a hypothetical increase in the tax levy, but that is not the same as a direct reduction.”
WILL brought the suit on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association.
The court will likely hear the case in the fall.
