WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – Officials in Winnebago County met on Tuesday evening with much to discuss, but the focus was largely on the potential future of a sales tax.
In a release before the meeting, the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Gordon Hintz said that the resolution would not implement the sales tax; however, it would just instruct staff to prepare write-ups and data to review possible impacts of one.
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“This step begins a conversation but does not finalize any outcome. I will be giving a presentation planned months ago, to ensure supervisors have the necessary information in front of them, including legal requirements, revenue projections, pros/cons, and possible uses, before considering whether a sales tax is in the county’s best interest.”
Winnebago County Exeuctive Gordon Hintz
During his presentation, Hintz highlighted both the benefits and drawbacks of a sales tax. He noted that visitors coming to Oshkosh for large events, such as EAA AirVenture and Lifest, would also contribute to county expenses, thereby easing the burden on local residents. Hintz also explained that revenues from a sales tax would likely grow faster over time than property taxes.
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While the discussion is still in its early stages, Tuesday’s meeting gave supervisors an overview of what the proposal could look like. A formal resolution on a potential tax plan could be introduced as early as next month.
State law allows counties to impose a sales tax of about 0.5% on goods and services, using the revenue to offset property taxes, fund future projects, or support long-term issues. Staff will return at a later meeting with language and analysis for deeper consideration.
