Greendale council adopts resolution supporting food-and-beverage tax; ordinance set for public hearing

The Greendale City Council on July 8 passed a resolution supporting a local food-and-beverage tax and held a first reading of the ordinance that would enact up to a 1% tax on restaurant sales to fund parks and recreation.

Council member Vince moved to approve Resolution 2026-09, saying the tax would help replace declining supplemental riverboat revenue; the motion passed after discussion and one recorded dissenting vote. City Attorney Anthony explained that the statute permits municipalities to enact a tax of up to 1% on restaurant food and beverage sales and that the council must adopt a supporting resolution before adopting an ordinance. "It's a dollar on $100 — 10¢ on $10," the mayor explained when describing how the tax would appear on a typical bill.

Supporters and council members framed the measure as a way to stabilize parks funding as riverboat distributions shrink. The mayor warned that the state has reduced other revenue streams and said the city may lose roughly half of supplemental riverboat revenue this year. Council members noted the tax would also be paid in part by nonresidents who dine in Greendale.

Opponents cautioned that the tax shifts local fiscal burdens onto residents and visitors. One council member objected, calling the prospect of raising local taxes a difficult choice. Council members emphasized the stepwise process: the resolution to show support, a public hearing next month on the ordinance, and a later vote on adoption.

Next steps: the council scheduled a public hearing on the food-and-beverage ordinance the next month; no final ordinance vote was taken on July 8.