The Milwaukee County Board today voted 13-6 to override County Executive Scott Walker's veto of an advisory referendum on whether to provide property tax relief by shifting funding for mass transit, parks, recreation, culture and paramedics from the property tax levy to an increase in the sales tax.

"Now that this referendum question has been approved, the public will weigh in on Nov. 4 whether they want to reduce the property tax levy, the most hated tax in Wisconsin, to the lowest level since 1997," said Board Chairman Lee Holloway. "By establishing a new tax levy base of approximately $183 million, property taxes would be $67 million less than the 2008 level of $250 million. In the future, due to strict limits set by the state, the levy could only increase by 2 percent of that new, lower base or by the percentage increase in the County's equalized assessed value."

The yes-or-no advisory referendum question will read, "Shall the State of Wisconsin grant Milwaukee County the authority to provide property tax relief of at least sixty-seven million dollars ($67 million) by levying a one percent county use and sales tax to be used to remove the following three items from the property tax levy: parks, recreation and culture; transit and emergency medical services (EMS)?"

"Because a sales tax is spread more evenly to everyone, including those who don't live here, it's highly unlikely the additional sales tax would outweigh your property tax savings," said Supervisor Gerry Broderick, chairman of the Parks, Energy & Environment Committee. "In this way, the sales tax can be a solution, not a problem."

"If you save $165 on your property taxes, you would have to spend $16,500 a year on taxable goods and services - groceries and other tax-exempt purchases don't count - to equal those savings. Owners of property worth higher amounts would save even more," said Supervisor Michael Mayo Sr., chairman of the board's Transportation, Public Works & Transit Committee. "We can also help the environment by adding more routes for people to get to school and jobs."

"Approving this referendum in November would give Milwaukee County residents true property tax relief," Supervisor John Weishan Jr. said. "This referendum will prioritize emergency medical services through the paramedics program, along with transit, parks, recreation and culture. These major quality of life services are important to our constituents."

In addition to Holloway, Broderick, Mayo and Weishan, the board members voting to override the veto today were Toni Clark, Elizabeth Coggs, Christopher Larson, Theodore Lipscomb, Marina Dimitrijevic, Willie Johnson Jr., Patricia Jursik, Peggy West and Johnny Thomas.

The board members voting against the veto override today were Mark Borkowski, Paul Cesarz, Lynne De Bruin, Joseph Rice, Joe Sanfelippo and Jim "Luigi" Schmitt.

Later today, Walker issued the following statement about  today's veto:

"The promise of property tax relief through a sales tax has not been successful in the past. In 1991, the board passed a sales tax increase, yet property taxes went up 55 percent in the 10 years that followed. Issuing an advisory referendum that has no legal mandate on county or state government detracts from the real debate that must occur to find new ways to provide core county services. Together with the city's latest wheel tax, those voting for a sales tax increase are well on their way to creating a tax island, and giving Milwaukee County the highest sales tax in the state."