April 5, Rhinelander voters will again decide whether to approve a half-of-one-cent increase in the sales tax within the city to help fix crumbling roads.
The Premier Resort Area Tax was approved by a 2-1 margin in April, 2015.
The legislature allows communities with large influxes motorists a special tax as their roads often deteriorate faster due to higher traffic volumes. Eagle River has had the tax since 2006 along with four other tourist spots like Wisconsin Dells. The vote last year in Rhinelander was advisory. In the state budget, Rhinelander was approved as a possible site for the tax, but the legislature required a binding vote before it could be implemented. City Administrator Kristina Aschenbrenner says the public is invited tonight to learn more...
".....we will be having a public informational hearing on Monday at 5:30 p.m. right before our council meeting. If anyone has questions(the public) can stop in and any of the staff will provide more information...."
Aschenbrenner's comments are from a program WXPR will broadcast on the tax, which will be heard later this month.
Officials say Rhinelander's population doubles each work day as people come for services and to work.The city resurfaced a badly deteriorated part of heavily traveled Lincoln Street last year, but only did a part of it after the funds ran out. Not all businesses would collect the tax, just those businesses that are tourism-related. More information is on theCity of Rhinelander website.
