Taxes Everywhere

The State of Wisconsin announced that sales tax collections for the Miller Park Stadium District were down in August by 29% compared to last year. So we'll be paying that extra stadium tax past the 2014 deadline.

Why would sales taxes drop. Oh yeah. People aren't spending as much. How come? Oh yeah. They either lost their jobs or are afraid to lose their jobs. So that means the rest of us have to keep paying.

Of course not all of us. Former president of the city council, John Kalwitz, who just loved Milwaukee and gave his entire elected career to the city, now lives in Nevada. He's a part of an investigation of the former president of the policeman's union. Kalwitz, like so many other elected officials, made sure that he earned all of his retirement benefits and then, rather than staying here and investing in the city, leaves.

The other side of the story is Mercury Marine, who offered a long term contract to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 1947, is planning on leaving the state and taking a possible 1800 jobs with them. The union rejected the company offer last week. When the company said they weren't open to further negotiations, some union workers petitioned for a second vote. After enough pressure, the union agreed on Saturday to have a vote. Too late for Mercury Marine.

Finally, after some meetings, the company and the union agreed to a final vote this week. As one union worker put it, "A yes vote means you keep your job. A no vote means you lose it." Whatta ya think? My guess is that the vote will keep the company in Fond Du Lac.

There is a lesson to be learned from that. When a company (or maybe government) says it's the final offer, the union will understand what that means.

On another note, I'm currently working on our new School-Pak programs for the upcoming year. Pretty exciting. I just need to reach all those coordinators before they commit to another company. They get pressured to commit now to protect their discounts. We've got some better ideas. Just need to get in contact with them. It's going to offer some really industry-changing options. Can't wait to get it all set up.

Finally, what about Favre? He played yesterday and did pretty well. Except for his cheap shot block, now being looked at by the NFL. Would they really fine him? Suspend him. Probably not.