State Sen. Carpenter introduces bill to end Miller Park tax

State Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) has introduced legislation that will end the sales and use taxes that have been imposed on residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Racine and Washington Counties for the sole purpose of supporting taxpayer funding of Miller Park. His bill ends the collection of such taxes no later than Dec. 31, 2019.

“We can all have an extra special New Year’s Eve party that day,” said Carpenter. “Ending the Miller Park tax is one thing in which I think we can all agree.”

“As a Milwaukee Brewers’ season ticket holder, I appreciate the value the team provides to the entire area,” said Carpenter. “At the same time, I know this is one of the more unpopular taxes residents of this area have been paying for years and we are way beyond the end date as far as what we were told. I’m trying to really set the record straight.”

Carpenter alluded to comments made by former Department of Administration Secretary James Klauser, who served under Gov. Tommy Thompson. “Mr. Klauser indicated at the time the tax would last no longer than 2014,” said Carpenter. “We asked what happens if it goes past 2014? He said, ‘it won’t.’ Anyone living in these five counties knows, it has.”

Carpenter’s legislation, Senate Bill 443, was introduced earlier this month and referred to the Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions and Rural Issues. The bill has a variety of co-authors, with bipartisan support apparent.

In addition to ending the sales and use taxes imposed on the five-county area, the bill would mandate the Brewers stay in Milwaukee at least until the end of the additional tax on area residents.

“We support them,” said Carpenter. “The Brewers shouldn’t have any problem with this in terms of returning the favor. I look forward to 2018 and supporting our team.”