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Rhinelander Likely To Ask Again For PRAT

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Last April, Rhinelander voters approved a half-cent on a dollar sales tax increase to be used strictly for road and infrastructure maintenance.

The Premier Resort Tax referendum was advisory. During the state budget cycle, the Joint Finance Committee said for Rhinelander to implement the tax, a binding referendum would need to be held. The city is moving toward another vote next April.

Finance committee chair Mark Pelletier says the city found enough money to fix a portion of badly deteriorated Lincoln Street. Pelletier says no one likes the taxes, but they like to be able to drive on updated roads...

"....it's exactly what it is. Lincoln Street is a perfect example of what we'll be able to do..."

Pelletier says Rhinelander's traffic justifies the request...

"....there's a lot of people just outside the edge of town that use all of the streets and facilities in town. They get to assist the locals in paying for this stuff....."

The city council is meeting next week. Municipalities don't have the ability to use a sales tax as counties do. But the legislature allows tourist areas to have the Premier Resort Area Tax to recoup dollars needed from travelers and others using local roads and services. Eagle River has had this tax since 2006.

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