Thoughts on the debate - Sales Tax Edition

I’ve just left the League of Women Voters debate. Let me tell you – 45 seconds are not enough to answer complex questions about financing and partisanship and any other number of items that came up.

I thought I’d take a few minutes here and run through items that were not covered or were cut off.

I have written on the sales tax issue in the past. I supported it in the last budget.

Why? Because I wanted to avoid another swipe of the credit card – here is what the Northwestern had to say after last year’s budget:

He (Harris) had praise for the 36-member board’s scrounging for savings. But he said the board-approved budget relies heavily on one-time budget maneuvers. Harris pointed to two key decisions: The reduction of a county property and liability insurance fund by $750,000 and a correction due to overestimation of fringe benefits by $500,000.

Both adjustments shift numbers in the budget and won’t be available to support spending next year.

It foreshadows another debate in late 2006 over implementation of a half-percent sales tax in 2007.

“We put most of the tough choices off this year,” said Harris, who advocated turning to a sales tax to preserve jobs crucial to public safety and delivering services for poor and elderly residents.

and

The board also shifted more-than $400,000 in county road projects initially slated to be paid for with direct taxes to borrowing. While the amendment takes money off the 2006 tax rolls, taxpayers will cover the debt costs with interest in budgets to come.

There it is, swiping the County Credit Card - just like they have done for the last several years. They were presented with a balanced budget, and suggestions for re-establishing county services, while still providing Tax-relief for property owners. They shirked the responsibility.

I will always fight for a balanced budget.

We cannot continue to tap into funds for insurance and putting off paying our bills for the future.
Now, let’s talk about the sales tax as it would have affected the 17th district.

The average home in Oshkosh is assessed at $86,300 and the average income is $37,636. Under the sales tax proposed, the 2-year tax increase would be $3.86.

That’s all. Winnebago could have had a balanced budget for $1.93/year for the average taxpayer.

Here is a worksheet that runs through and explains all the numbers.

Where will much of the sales tax revenue come from? People that are using county services now, yet not paying property taxes to Winnebago County - tourists.

The extra costs to the county for Country USA, EAA, boat patrols and any number of other county protections and services would be offset by the revenue from their purchases.

Now, I will look at all possible ways to avoid a sales tax, but I will do everything I can to have a balanced budget. And keep it fair for Winnebago's working families.

Wow, how was I unable to get that out in 45 seconds?