Facts About the November Sales Tax Referendum

There's a lot you need to know about making an informed vote regarding the sales tax referendum for Milwaukee County this November. Here are some facts about the November 4th sales tax referendum:

• Milwaukee County is the only major metropolitan area that still relies solely on a property tax to fund it's transit programs.
• The $2.00 fare for a one way trip on a Milwaukee County bus is one of the highest in the nation. County Executive Scott Walker is now proposing to raise the fare for a one way bus ticket to $2.25 - a 12% increase!
• Taking parks, culture & recreation, transit, and EMS services off the property tax levy will save property owners $170 per $150,000 of assessed value on their property taxes.
• Funding for our parks system has been slashed over the several decades. From 1986 to 2006, the parks went from more than 28% of the total county tax levy to just 8%.
• "Parks, culture & recreation" organizations include the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Milwaukee County Historical Society, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, VISIT Milwaukee, libraries and the Fund for the Arts. All of these organizations would benefit under the 1% sales tax referendum.
• When Miller Brewing recently announced it was moving executive operations to Chicago, they cited their reliable public transit system as one of the deciding factors.