While we applaud the efforts of the Governor to fully fund Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure, we are concerned with the proposed 2.5% gross receipts fee on petroleum sales.
Superior is home to Murphy Oil who is a major employer and economic driver in this community. Murphy is the only oil refinery and fuel manufacturer in the State of Wisconsin. While Murphy Oil supplies only a small amount of the total fuel volume sold in Wisconsin, they would disproportionately bear the burden of the proposed fee as a larger proportion of their production is sold in Wisconsin.
While the Superior Refinery is significant in our local economy, it is not part of “Big Oil” that the Governor is proposing to target with this fee. It is in fact classified by the Federal government as a “small refinery”.
Before approving this measure, please consider the significant impact that this fee will have on the Superior area.