Oshkosh is a city that punches above its weight.
We’re not just some quiet place to call home — we’re the engine that powers the region. UW-Oshkosh educates students from across the state. EAA AirVenture brings nearly 700,000 people here each year. Our hospitals, parks, restaurants, libraries and job sites serve families from Algoma, Omro, Winneconne, Black Wolf and beyond — every single day.
But when it’s time to pay for paved streets, clean parks and emergency services, it’s Oshkosh property taxpayers alone picking up the tab — for residents and non-residents alike.
And consider this: when our council spoke up about the Municipal Services Payment program — meant to reimburse cities like Oshkosh for the costs of serving tax-exempt state properties — we delivered. Thanks to strong advocacy from city leadership and the efforts of State Rep. Lori Palmeri and State Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, Oshkosh secured an additional nearly $400,000 annually in the latest state budget.
That’s not just a win — it’s proof that thinking critically and resolutions to Madison aren’t empty gestures; they’re how we advocate for and win resources for our residents. But even with this progress, MSP remains significantly underfunded, and the gap continues to shift additional costs onto local property taxpayers.
Wisconsin law currently gives counties the power to adopt a local sales tax. And 70 of the state’s 72 counties have done so. But cities? We don’t get that option — even when our counties choose not to act. That leaves places like Oshkosh, which serve far more than just our residents, almost entirely dependent on property taxes.
Let me be clear: that’s not just inefficient. It’s unfair.
I get the concern about sales tax fairness. But what’s truly regressive is overreliance on property taxes — a system that hits renters, working families and seniors hardest. A local sales tax spreads the cost to those who benefit but don’t live here. And to be clear, in Wisconsin, local sales tax does not apply to gas, groceries or prescription medicines — so it’s structured to avoid hitting essential items, especially for those on fixed incomes.
That’s why I asked the Oshkosh City Council to take a stand — and we did, passing a resolution with overwhelming support, 6-1.
We’re asking the Legislature for a straightforward fix: give cities like Oshkosh the option to adopt a modest local sales tax if the county hasn’t done so — up to 0.5% — with every dollar staying local. We’re also backing a broader solution for other regional centers like Appleton, Green Bay and La Crosse that shoulder similar responsibilities.
This isn’t about raising taxes — it’s about ensuring people who use our services but don’t live here pay their fair share, too. It’s about local control, fiscal sustainability and fairness. If Oshkosh is going to keep doing big things for the region, it’s time the region helped carry the load. If we want to keep pushing Oshkosh forward, we need the tools to match our responsibilities — and the freedom to shape our own future.
Let us decide.
DJ Nichols is an Oshkosh council member.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Let Oshkosh decide: Why it’s time to share the load | Opinion
Reporting by DJ Nichols / Oshkosh Northwestern
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