Milwaukee Common Council Implements 2% Sales Tax to Prevent Financial Crisis

The Milwaukee Common Council has approved a 2% sales tax increase, with a 12-3 vote in favor. The higher sales tax is aimed at avoiding a financial crisis and preventing deep cuts to core services such as police and fire protection. The additional revenue generated, estimated to be nearly $200 million, will be used to address the city's underfunded pension system and increase the number of police officers and firefighters. Milwaukee was previously the only city of its size without the power to raise its own sales tax.