Ephraim could become the second community in Door County to enact a Premier Resort Area Tax if its village board decides to put it up for a vote. Currently, seven communities including the Village of Sister Bay have placed an additional tax on tourism-related purchases, ranging between 0.5 and 1.25 percent. The Village of Sister Bay approved its 0.5 percent PRAT via a referendum in February of 2018 and enacted it a few months later in July. State law allows Ephraim and Sister Bay to enact a PRAT despite not reaching a certain threshold of tourism-related infrastructure within its municipality. With large projects like the streetscape in the rearview mirror and looking ahead to others like additional lighting and Anderson Dock maintenance, village administrator Brent Bristol says the board felt the time was right.

Bristol says adding the PRAT had been on their radar for several years. Discussion about the PRAT and upcoming capital improvement plans will take place at the next Ephraim Village Board meeting in November.