Marshfield Getting Involved in Statewide Campaign Against "Big Box" Retailers
Wednesday, August 15th, 2018 -- 8:05 AM
(WDLB) -Marshfield will be getting involved in a statewide campaign against two “Big Box” retailers that have outlets in the city.The Marshfield Common Council last night approved a recommendation from the city’s Finance and Budget Committee to contribute 25-hundred dollars to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, for its fight against Wal-mart and Menard’s over the so-called “dark store” taxing issue. City Administrator Steve Barg said the money would be used to lobby the Governor and Legislature to implement new tax laws so that the two retail giants could not claim their active stores should be assessed at the same level as their stores which are shut down, or “dark”.
"Presumably, what they really want to do, will occur, I think, a large part before the legislature even reconvenes in January and, probably, will continue into early 2019. It's really a public campaign to try and encourage legislators to support this type of law."
Alderman Gordy Earll, who made the motion at Finance to increase the city’s contribution from 12-hundred to 25-hundred dollars, said the money is well worth it, to prevent Wal-mart and Menard’s from costing Marshfield taxpayers thousands of dollars of lost revenues to a tax loophole.
"Currently, Wal-mart here and Menards have a suit against the city to lower their taxes in effect by using this "dark store" theory, which is accepted in some parts of Wisconsin at this point. And the idea being that if they win in court and their taxes are reduced, the average tax payer is going to pick up the difference. And it's estimated that it could increase our taxes as much as 8%."
Barg said the statewide League has already set aside 75-thousand dollars for its campaign against the “dark store” loophole which Wal-mart and Menard’s are seeking. The Council’s vote to join the fight was 8-2, with Aldermen Steve Mac Swain and Jason Zaleski voting “no”.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.