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3/17/2010
Marthenze: Sheboygan County sales tax defeated
A Sheboygan County half-percent county sales tax measure failed to become law by a vote of 22 opposed and 12 in favor. In this era of Tea Party rallies, anti-health insurance reform demonstrations and uprisings by people who’ve spent most of their adult lives on the sidelines watching the political circus, the timing of a new sales tax could not be poorer. It should be no surprise to those of us involved in county government for the past few years why it failed, and it brings home in a very real way the substance of representative government.
For the last three consecutive annual budgets we’ve reduced the property tax levy. Why would we now come to the taxpayers and ask them to increase their funding of government through a new and more regressive form of taxation? Some argued that the county would, through a sales tax, capitalize on the tourists who attend the pro golf tournaments at Whistling Straits and the NASCAR races at Road America. I speculate that those of us who voted against the new tax were thinking about the county residents who would pay this tax 52 weeks out of the year, not just for a few weeks in the summer.
During the run-up to the vote last night the pressure on some of the County Supervisors, especially the newer board members, was notable. The County Administrator, hardly a lightweight on public policy issues, provided yeoman service to those favoring the sales tax. And in lock step with him were all the department heads, including the elected constitutional county officials. It’s understandable that the bureaucrats who operate the county on a day-to-day basis would be very much in favor of a new source of revenue. After all, failing the infusion of the $9 million the sales tax would provide, most certainly these bureaucratic functions will become more difficult.
A number of the Supervisors on our County Board adopted the delegate approach to voting on this tax, that is, they were inclined to vote to impose the tax because they knew (or were led to believe) that the tax was in some regard a panacea for the financial woes we face as a result of the irresponsibility of our state and federal rulers. Just looking at the farcical display of total disregard for the electorate now playing out in Washington, I didn’t think it appropriate to emulate that on the Sheboygan County Board.
Those of us who opposed the tax, though we were derided by some for taking that approach, had a lot of ardent support from the people we represented. I’ve personally had people opposed to the tax stop on the road to thank me for my support. I’ve received several emails that simply said, “If you vote for the sales tax we’ll never vote for you again!” Simply put, I’m not in the business of telling voters what’s good for them; I’m in the business of supervising our government so that it operates fairly, effectively and according to the wishes of the majority. I think that philosophy of representation prevailed last night.
During our discussion there was a compromise amendment offered that would have earmarked the proceeds of the sales tax only for certain designated purposes. The wisdom of the County Board prevailed, however, and the amendment was defeated by a vote of 23 to 11.
Now that the votes have been cast, tallied and recorded, we face the very real challenge of governing on behalf of the same voters who mobbed the County Board chambers the past few months, making speeches and writing letters and emails in opposition to the sales tax. They expect us to do the best we can with the resources they’ve placed at our disposal. Imagine that – American citizens wanting a voice in running their government. I do believe, as I’ve believed since I was first elected, that we can make our government work to the satisfaction of our neighbors. They sign our nomination papers, vote for us, and count on the fact that we don’t impose our personal opinions and desires on their lives. That’s what makes county government great! And now it’s time to go about the business of providing the best service we can with the least impact on the pocketbooks of our friends and neighbors.
George Marthenze is a Sheboygan County Supervisor.
COMMENTS
Thank You for having the courage to "serve" the taxpayers by voting against a "revenue enhancement" Oops I mean sales tax!. I am sure someone like the County Administrator tried to use the more palatable phrase revenue enhancement lingo. Remember when the Federal Income Tax was proposed it was "only" a half percent. Look what we have now. Now that you have given direction to the Administrator I hope he has the ability to carry it out. The game is over: long are the days of Governing without the consent of the governed.!!!
Jay Schroeder (Wed Mar 17 10:45:17 2010)
The term used was, "Diversify our revenue streams." I don't doubt that this will come back at some time in the future, but we DO have a substantial (about $10 mil) undesignated fund that we've removed from the taxpayers' pockets for just such time as this. We need to use it now to keep us alive until the cavalry comes next November.
That's where you and the others who read FoxPolitics come in - get rid of the liberal menace when you next visit the voting booth! Depending on what the out-of-touch and mentally challenged Congress does with the health care insurance scam, the Democrats could just about polish-off their party next November.
George Marthenze (Thu Mar 18 07:51:18 2010)
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