Thursday, June 01, 2006

Tax for Parks, Tax for Arts, Tax, Tax, Tax

Tim Sheehy, fresh from his defeat on electric choochoo trains, seeks revenge:

A small, new multicounty sales tax should be considered to support regional cultural attractions, representatives of two leading business and civic organizations said Wednesday.

...Main beneficiaries of a regional cultural tax could include the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, the Mitchell Park Domes and other major institutions that draw many patrons from beyond Milwaukee County, said Jill Pelisek, chairwoman of a Greater Milwaukee Committee study group on the future of Milwaukee County parks.

...Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy also urged a limited regional funding approach, starting with regional assets that already receive some Milwaukee County tax levy support. Those include the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the zoo, the Milwaukee Public Museum and a variety of smaller organizations.

This is not a surprise. Dan Finley floated this concept, or one similar to it, when he came onstream at the Museum. Most likely Finley took the position with the understanding that new tax support would be forthcoming.

Given that Sheehy and Pelisek (wife of the attorney who rammed SeligStadium through) are now on the record with the proposal, we can assume that a number of other local potentates are also on board, and it's merely a matter of acquiring Legislative approval.

That will be an interesting process to watch.

No comments: