Kinnickinnic residents throw out large tax hike

Talk about it

An overflow crowd showed up and voted overwhelmingly no on a proposed 46.7% tax levy increase at Tuesday night’s town of Kinnickinnic special elector’s meeting. The Town Board had proposed the large hike to pay for future road upkeep.

After a lengthy and often contentious debate, town residents rejected the proposed tax levy by a vote of 172 to 4, with seven abstaining.

Citizen’s feelings were best summarized by resident Pam Deutsch, 555 90th Street: “It’s not the right time to ask the residents for a tax increase," Deutsch said. "I can’t budget for 10, 20 years in the future, let alone 5 years.”

Since a 2011 budget was still needed, a budget with a 6% tax increase was introduced.

The new budget would raise individual's town tax rate by about $12 per $100,000 of assessed value.

After some of the residents left, the 6% tax was approved by town electors by a vote of 81 to 76 with three abstaining.

For the the full story, please check the Nov. 17 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: kinnickinnic, government, politics, wisconsin