Acting Milwaukee County Executive Lee Holloway is pushing for an increased county sales tax to fund transit, parks and emergency medical services.
Delivering the State of the County address, Holloway asked Gov. Scott Walker to allow such a move, pointing out the county has one of the last remaining urban transportation systems that relies on local property taxes. Read Holloway’s full speech by clicking here.
“This is a fragile funding source, and I am not going to give up the fight to identify dedicated funding and lower property taxes,” said Holloway, who’s running for the co. exec post.
Holloway is set to turn over the county exec’s post to Marvin Pratt and return to his post as County Board chair. Holloway assumed the job after Walker resigned to become guv, and Pratt will take over until after the April election to choose Walker’s successor.
Holloway faces a February primary against former Democratic state Sen. Jim Sullivan, Republican state Rep. Jeff Stone, philanthropist Chris Abele and paralegal Ieshuh Griffin.
Abele knocked Holloway’s call for a tax boost, saying it was the "first instinct of career politicians."
Sullivan said the county "has suffered for far too long with leadership that allows egos and political posturing to get in the way of solutions. Milwaukee County taxpayers deserve more for their tax dollar than deteriorating parks and infrastructure, reduced transit, a crumbling court system and perilous mental health services."
– WisPolitics.com
