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Oshkosh council asks state for authority to levy municipal sales tax; vote splits 6-1
Summary
Council approved Resolution 25-393 asking the Wisconsin Legislature to authorize certain cities to levy a 0.5% municipal sales tax; the measure passed 6-1 after public comment and extended debate among council members.
The Oshkosh City Common Council voted 6-1 on July 8 to ask the Wisconsin Legislature for authority to allow certain cities in counties without a county sales tax to levy a 0.5% municipal sales tax. The measure, identified in the meeting as Resolution 25-393, passed after more than 30 minutes of council discussion and a public comment from County Supervisor John Hins.
Councilmember Nichols, who introduced the resolution, said the item is not an immediate tax imposition but a request to the state to give Oshkosh the option to levy a 0.5% tax. The sponsor said the policy would give the city another tool for raising revenue in lieu of increasing property taxes and noted exemptions typical to state sales taxes such as groceries, gasoline and prescription drugs.
John Hins, identified in his remarks as a Winnebago County board supervisor, urged the council to take the proposal to the county first and said bypassing the county could inflame a fragile relationship between city and county elected officials. Hins said the county is the appropriate venue for county sales-tax discussion and that the council should consult the county executive and county committees before pursuing a city-level tax authority.
Council debate touched on timing and coordination with the county. Several council members said they support having an option on the table and described the resolution as a request to the Legislature rather than immediate action. Opponents argued the timing was poor because the city is already pressing the state for other funds and because coordination with county officials had not been completed.
Councilmember Flom cast the lone dissenting vote, saying the timing was not right and that the city should coordinate with the county first. Council members in favor said the resolution is a tool to be considered, noting the city’s constrained revenue options under state law. Supporters also emphasized that the resolution merely requests legislative authority; it does not itself create a new tax.
The clerk recorded the vote as: Spannbauer (Aye), Flom (No), Yulo (Aye), Stevenson (Aye), Nichols (Aye), Larson (Aye), Mugelauer (Aye) — carried 6–1. Council directed staff to transmit the resolution to state legislators and the League of Municipalities.
The item will now be communicated to the city’s state legislative delegation; any actual imposition of a municipal sales tax would require separate council action and authorizing legislation from the state.
Ending: Council members said they expect outreach and follow-up with state representatives and local partners before any further action.
