FLORENCE, Wis. — The Florence County Board has removed a sentence from its sales tax ordinance that would have dropped the half-cent charge at the end of 2021.

The .5% sales and use tax is intended to reduce the property tax, according to the ordinance. The new version the board unanimously approved July 21 eliminates the “sunset clause” set for Dec. 31, 2021.

The county set up the sales tax in 2006, with the first five years providing funds to assist the school district. After that, the amount generated has been taken off the property tax levy.

The .5% local tax, along with the 5% Wisconsin sales tax, means those who purchase goods or services in Florence County are charged a 5.5 cents tax on every dollar spent.

At a public hearing on the ordinance change, one man encouraged letting the sales tax end, saying he’d seen no reduction in his property taxes and would rather pay more for property taxes than on what he bought in the county.

The rationale behind the local sales tax is tourists and other visitors to the county contribute, rather than just residents. But the man who commented said he’s seen little proof spending by out-of-county customers was having much effect on what locals paid in taxes.

The board also adopted a new ordinance that will allow it to establish traffic laws, such as speed limits and signals, for county roads and highways.

In other business, the board approved amending the contract with the Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission to have the agency update Florence County’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan.