LETTER: Assembly vote starts process to end Brewers’ stadium sales tax

To Ozaukee Press:
    Back in the mid-1990s, the Miller Park Stadium District was authorized to collect a .1% sales tax from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington and Racine Counties for the construction of the new Brewers’ stadium. The revenue generated from the tax helped get the stadium built and was also used for the district’s insurance and lease obligations for maintenance and operation of the stadium.
    The goals of the sales tax having been met, I am happy to report that the Wisconsin Assembly has passed legislation to eliminate the tax, saving taxpayers $30 million a year.
    The bill gives disbursement authorization to the Department of Revenue to return any excess tax revenues to each of the five counties for things like property tax relief, public safety, parks and recreation and or economic development.
State Rep. Dan Knodl
Germantown
Knodl, a Republican, represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes parts of Mequon and Cedarburg.