If you’re first reaction to a tax increase is recoil, don’t worry you’re not alone. For years, I watched my old hometown of Orlando scrape away penny taxes from the community, just so they could they vacuumed up by special interests for projects we’d never enjoy.

But I’m still optimistic for the new tourism tax that will soon be implemented in Sturgeon Bay. There is going to be an opportunity to do a lot of good with that new revenue (story HERE).

Much of this will be outside money. This means that residents won’t be exploited like they would be in other cases like the example I used earlier. It’s also the will of the people (who passed this years earlier) and the people will remain vigilant on how it’s used.

I have to warn you in advance. After using this money on infrastructure, it’s going to be tempting to try and do something else with the revenue. After all, adequate sidewalks and storm water reinforcement aren’t exactly the sexiest projects out there. But stay the course and it can do a great amount of good for the community.

Another important warning is that this is a “tourism tax”. The money isn’t always going to be there. I can recall the toll that the COVID 19 pandemic took on tourism markets all over the country. There were projects that had to be delayed. Others had to be cancelled altogether.

But this is good news for Sturgeon Bay. And I can’t wait to see how they’ll make their community better off of the enjoyment of it’s visitors to the area.