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West Allis aldermen debate whether city should seek its own ZIP code
Summary
Members of the West Allis administration committee discussed whether the city should pursue a single, exclusive ZIP code to reduce confusion around sales tax and deliveries but took no formal action, saying only a few residents had asked for a change and that costs for businesses could be significant.
West Allis aldermen discussed on the administration committee agenda whether the city should pursue an exclusive ZIP code for West Allis amid confusion about sales-taxing and deliveries.
Mayor Devine told the committee the idea was prompted by a recent federal bill and by publicity in other communities, but said he had heard from only two residents so far. "Short of it is about within the last year, a congresswoman from Colorado had introduced a zip code bill...and I had probably had 1 individual in the community who had contacted me repeatedly, maybe 2," Mayor Devine said.
The conversation centered on whether a single ZIP code would reduce resident confusion about sales tax and online deliveries, and on potential costs to local businesses. "I think there's gonna be a real cost there," one alderman said of reprinting marketing materials and updating business addresses. Members also noted possible effects on auto-insurance rates and delivery routing.
Committee members asked staff and aldermen whether they had received broad constituent interest; most said no. Alderman Keane told the committee he had not heard more than the one constituent and Alderman Haas said he had also not heard widespread demand. Several members suggested leaving the matter as informational unless more residents request action.
No motion or vote was taken. The committee classified the item as an informational discussion and did not direct staff to begin any formal application for a ZIP-code change.
The committee did note procedural unknowns: whether a ZIP-code change would automatically forward mail, how long commercial websites and shipping services would take to update, and that any federal or United States Postal Service steps would be required before local action could have effect. Mayor Devine said he had asked congressional staffers about implementation and they were unable to answer how forwarding or business updates would work.
Committee members said they would monitor constituent response and could return the item to the agenda if more residents asked the city to pursue the change.
