The Brown County Board approved a new half-percent sales tax Wednesday to help pay for a new expo center and other infrastructure projects.
The sales tax will last six years and begin in January 2018.
The county believes it will collect about $147 million to be used on county projects.
The vote was 23 for and 3 against.
"It's $60 million dollars going toward roads, we have projects; the library, the jail which we do need mental health to inmates," said Brown County Board Supervisor Mark Becker. "Those are things that are desperately needed."
The county board vote included an amendment guaranteeing property taxes won't be raised during the six year period.
"We still need to work with the seven municipalities," said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. "Allouez and De Pere did pass it last night, so we have 4 more municipalities to go."
Here's how the investments into infrastructure break down:
- Roads and Facilities Infrastructure -- $60 million
- Jail and Mental Health -- $20 million
- Library -- $20 million
- Expo Hall -- $15 million
- M.E. Morgue and Public Safety -- $10 million
- Maintenance Fund Resch and Expo -- $10 million
- Fairground and Parks -- $6 million
- STEM -- $5 million
- Museum -- $1 million
