Sales Tax Keeps County Debt In Check

Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says not everyone likes the County sales tax, but it has been good for the County. He says in addition to raising revenue to help out economic development efforts it allows the County to pay down debt by not having to borrow for capital improvement projects. He says when the sales tax sunsets in 2021 the County will once again be looking at borrowing to fund capital improvement projects. He says people look at the sales tax as a tax, but borrowing for capital improvement projects has to be paid for somehow and the other option is to pay for the debt by increasing the tax levy. It also helps a revolving loan fund for economic development that creates and retains jobs. Buechel says he’d like to see the sale tax continue beyond the sunset date, but that’s a decision for a future County Board.