Approving sales tax sends message to Madison

Letter to the Editor from the Northwestern:

Approving sales tax sends message to Madison

An open letter to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors following its 18-17 vote to table the county sales tax resolution:

The arguments offered for adopting the half percent sales tax are compelling in the short term. Certainly the county should not abandon its less fortunate citizens by cutting services and programs, but there is an even more compelling reason to adopt the sales tax in the long term. By enacting a property tax freeze, the state Legislature has set the dangerous precedent of infringing on the taxing authority of a sovereign local government. In my opinion this is a step towards turning county government into a toothless tiger. A legislative body without taxing authority might just as well shut down and go home. Granted, at this point the county still has taxing authority (although now limited), but a precedent is being set that is dangerous. If the County Board acquiesces to this precedent by the state Legislature, it opens the door to further restrictions in the future.

Adopting the half percent sales tax sends a message back to the state Legislature that local government takes its sovereignty, its taxing authority and its role in governance seriously. The two additional benefits of preserving adequate social services and additional property tax relief only make the half percent sales tax more attractive.

John Lemberger Oshkosh