Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs resolution urging legislative fixes to Wisconsin tax-levy freeze
Summary
The Sawyer County Administrative Committee approved a resolution urging legislative action to address county funding challenges from Wisconsin's tax-levy freeze, recommending tying levy growth to CPI with a 3.5% cap rather than to net new construction.
The Sawyer County Administrative Committee voted to approve a resolution urging the state Legislature to address problems counties face under the Wisconsin tax-levy freeze. The presenter explained the proposal would tie allowable levy growth to the consumer price index with a 3.5% annual cap, instead of the current focus on net new construction.
The presenter said the change would “level the playing field” between counties that rely heavily on property tax revenue and those receiving more shared revenue. He noted shared-revenue growth tracks sales tax increases while property-tax limits tied to net new construction leave some counties with very limited growth in levy capacity.
Mr. Buckles moved to approve “resolution 20 26 urging legislative action to address county funding challenges under the Wisconsin tax levy freeze,” and Ms. Hessel seconded. The committee called the question and the motion carried by voice vote.
Committee members said the cap in the draft resolution was intentional to prevent CPI-driven spikes and to start a broader conversation among counties about revenue limits and funding sources.
