With the start of the new year came a pair of sales tax hikes for residents living in the city and county of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and, for days, the issue sparked some snarky social media salvos between Milwaukee’s Democratic Mayor Cavalier Johnson and conservative Washington County executive Josh Schoemann.
“The city added a two percent sales tax to their existing sales taxes while the county increased its sales tax from 0.5 percent to 0.9 percent,” according to Fox News Digital.
The increases took effect on January 1, and, on December 29, Schoemann encouraged city residents to skirt the new taxes by shopping in his district.
“I warmly welcome all of our Milwaukee County neighbors to Washington County to shop, dine & keep more of your money while doing it…” he wrote on X.
I warmly welcome all of our Milwaukee County neighbors to Washington County to shop, dine & keep more of your money while doing it… https://t.co/hyofgHfEX6
— Josh Schoemann (@JoshSchoemann) December 30, 2023
On New Year’s Day, Schoemann provided X users with a link to an Ashley Furniture bed and dresser and wrote, “Come to Washington County for the savings, stay for the quality of life!”
Presenting “Exhibit A,” the county exec said, “In the City of Milwaukee, today you will pay an additional $60 for this bedroom set.”
Come to Washington County for the savings, stay for the quality of life!
Exhibit A: In the City of Milwaukee, today you will pay an additional $60 for this bedroom set: https://t.co/Ynmj8uw7k9 https://t.co/99thcVnNKh— Josh Schoemann (@JoshSchoemann) January 1, 2024
Mayor Johnson turned to mainstream media on January 2, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Schoemann’s jabs were “unfortunate.”
“I thought [Schoemann’s comments] were unfortunate knowing that all communities need revenue,” he told the local press. “If folks are looking at a high-quality dinner or a theater or a fine dining experience, they can come here, or go to Cracker Barrel there.”
“[Washington County residents] are getting a boost as this is retaining the Brewers, and it helps a lot of people,” Johnson stated. “[Schoemann] is encouraging people to go to their county; folks will pay more in gas than simply staying [in Milwaukee.]”
Schoemann struck back, telling Fox News Digital that the “working people like those who enjoy Cracker Barrel are the same people that get hit the hardest by higher taxes.”
“The Milwaukee Mayor can keep his ‘fine dining,'” he said. “I’ll stick with the folks who visit places like Cracker Barrel.”
Johnson’s communications director, Jeff Fleming, told Fox News Digital that Schoemann should “drop it.”
“Perhaps Mr. Schoemann ought to review the Mayor’s comments; no one here has suggested the people of Washington County are deplorable,” Fleming said.
“In fact, a small portion of the City of Milwaukee is located in Washington County,” he continued. “It is odd that a county executive would cast such aspersions on his own constituents.”
“Mr. Schoemann has created a false narrative to escalate this interaction,” Fleming declared. “It’s time to drop it.”
“Now, Milwaukee city residents are paying 7.9 percent sales tax and those in the county, but not the city of Milwaukee, are paying 5.9 percent sales tax,” Fox News Digital reports. “Wisconsin also has a statewide sales tax of 5 percent.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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