LIVING HERE
The spring election is not so far away, and the Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) advisory referendum is on the ballot.
The city website shares the referendum question, as it will be worded on the ballot and information for educating voters on the PRAT to promote informed voting. Voters are encouraged to go to cityoflakegeneva.gov to read all information provided, as it’s well covered. If the referendum passes, the city will then petition the state to allow adoption of the tax. The City of Lake Geneva is looking at other ways to increase revenue, claiming the operating budget is in the red and alternative options should be increased property tax and parking rates. Parking rates were recently increased heavily, and locals are not happy, so the prediction is that the same would be true for an increased sales tax, with even more public discontent. The PRAT is a sales tax in the amount of .5% that would be collected by locals and visitors to generate revenue so all who use the city infrastructure share the cost. All tourist-related retailers are subject to the PRAT tax.
The idea of the PRAT and the wording of the city’s advisory referendum makes it easy to assume it will only be affecting the downtown or gift shop type stores, well that may not be the case. The list of businesses and products includes everything, not just the tourist shops. Big box stores, drug stores, and gas stations are all on the PRAT taxable list. The residents of the city need to decide if the referendum is good or bad for the city. The tax, as it is applied up in the Wisconsin Dells, exempts locals from the taxation. How the locals prove they are locals to the business owners is a question that the GSR will answer after more investigation.
The big clean up.
The City of Lake Geneva Public Works Department has been going through the city cleaning up brush and limbs from trees damaged during the ice storm. Residents may cut up their limbs and branches and place them by the curb not in the street. All limbs and branches may not be larger than 6 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length; they must be stacked at the curb. Branches, lawn waste and other items not created by the recent ice storm will also not be removed. Given the amount of damage throughout the city; an exact time for picking up items is not possible, and the whole process may take months to complete. Public works will go through the city and perform pick-up services as time allows. Residents also have the option of dropping off broken tree limbs and brush at the free brush drop located at the Lake Geneva Department of Public Works Garage, located at 1070 Carey St. in downtown Lake Geneva (the same rules concerning width and length of branches apply).
