Milwaukee alderman urges increase in city sales tax

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- District 10 Alderman Michael Murphy highlighted the importance of the Milwaukee Fire Department's efforts Friday and reminded constituents of the upcoming vote on additional local sales taxes. 

The city's Common Council can approve a new 2% city sales tax. If approved, it would generate about $200 million per year. 

Milwaukee County has an existing sales tax of .5%. 

The shared revenue bill allows the county to increase the tax to .9%, which would bring in another $75 million annually.

Murphy encouraged voters to show support for the sales tax and noted if it doesn't pass, our police and fire departments would suffer from the cuts, which he says would be unacceptable. 

"I don't think citizens and residents would want to have a situation where the response time is going to be extended by not just a few minutes, but longer, and in that case, we're talking about not only property loss damage, but real lives," said Ald. Murphy. 

In order for the Milwaukee sales taxes to pass, 10 of the city's 15 alders and 12 of the 18 county board supervisors must approve.