A new sales tax has taken effect in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with the goal of finding a way for tourists to pay for road maintenance projects. The premier resort area tax, which adds an extra half of a percent to certain items, will not impact groceries or gasoline but will affect items largely related to tourism.
Local Reaction
Local business owners have mixed feelings about the tax. Bliss Owner Todd Trimberger said, “I think it will help maintain roads and stuff that are getting extra wear and tear.” However, he also noted that local taxpayers will have to pay the extra charge when purchasing affected items. Karlie Martens of Novel Bay Booksellers said, “Our little peninsula takes a pretty big hit every summer, and so having some extra funds that come from not just the taxpayers, but also the people that come to visit every year will be really helpful in maintaining our roads and our peninsula.”
The tax arrives right before Fourth of July weekend, and in the middle of a busy summer season for Door County. In 2025, tourism in Door County had a total economic impact of $686 million. The city planned for six months of the tax revenue at $400,000.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
