Green Bay To Spend $1M Of Tax Rebate On Economic Development

Brown County municipalities are deciding how to spend a $17.4 million tax rebate.

The money is left over from excess sales tax collections for renovations to Lambeau Field. State law requires the money be spent on lowering taxes, debt relief or economic development.

The extra half cent sales tax was removed last September after being collected for nearly 15 years to make improvements to the Green Bay Packers’ stadium. The tax generated more than $300 million. The excess money is now being distributed to municipalities based on population.

Green Bay received $5.4 million, the bulk of which will go to infrastructure improvements and debt retirement. The Green Bay City Council rejected a proposal to give homeowners rebates on property taxes. The council has set aside $1 million for economic development projects that will benefit the public while helping the economy. The goal is to focus on providing funds to nonprofits and their initiatives.

Mayor Jim Schmitt said the approved grants should add to the community. He said he expects proposals from the Botanical Garden, the National Railroad Museum and Bay Beach Amusement Park, which now lacks a beach.

“I would look at the restoration of Bay Beach as an economic development project,” Schmitt said. “I think when we can put the sand back in there, put some piers, fishing.”

The money is better spent on projects that will have a lasting effect, Schmitt said.

“There are some things that I want to look back in 20 years and say, ‘That was an awesome use of that money,’” he said. “We were the catalyst or we were the organization that got them over the finish line and truly made a better economy and a better quality of life for northeast Wisconsin.”

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 23, and will be reviewed by a city council subcommittee and presented to the full council on Tuesday, Oct. 18, when the council will vote on what initiatives to give money to.