Letter to the Editor: A Solution to Bad City Streets

Sturgeon Bay streets are deteriorating and there is a solution. It’s voting “yes” on Tuesday, April 3, for the Premier Area Resort Tax (PRAT). The PRAT is a .5 percent sales tax on tourist-type expenditures at PRAT identified businesses (items such as meals, room rentals, liquor sales, and sporting goods). A PRAT tax would share the cost burden of street maintenance and replacement with visitors and tourists who use local streets.

A citizens committee – the Ad-Hoc Committee on Funding for Local Street and Infrastructure – studied four options: A Premier Area Resort Tax, wheel tax, debt financing, and an override referendum to exceed state-imposed levy limits. The city council has unanimously agreed that implementing a Premier Resort Area Tax would be the best financing mechanism.

We have the opportunity to vote to support the tax to generate the funds needed to fix the deteriorating streets throughout the city. Make sure you vote “yes” to the Premier Resort Area Tax to pay for street and infrastructure expenses.

Lisa M. White

General Manager, AmericInn Lodge & Suites

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.