DOR 2023 Preliminary Equalized Values

2023-2024 Legislative Session

August 1, 2023 | Number 7

DOR Releases Preliminary Equalized Values

Quick Review Needed

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) posted its preliminary 2023 Equalized Values, Tax Incremental District (TID) Values, Net New Construction Report. DOR posts the 2023 preliminary Equalized Values, providing each municipality an opportunity to review the values before they are certified on Tuesday, August 15.

⭐ NOTE: The review period this year is short! ALL REVIEW by municipalities is to be completed by AUGUST 7th.

⭐ If you have questions or concerns on the DOR preliminary reports contact your Equalization Bureau District Office on or before August 7th. The League strongly encourages all municipalities to review your values before the deadline.

⭐For more information see the DOR website.

Final 2023-2025 Budget Analysis

Last week the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a summary of the 2023-25 State Budget. The budget was enacted into law as 2023 Wisconsin Act 19 on July 5, 2023 and totals $99.6 billion with all funding sources included.

The Fiscal bureau also produced the following memos specific to the budget bill:

Property Tax Estimates under 2023 Acts 11 (School District Finance)), 12 (Shared Revenue), and 19 (Biennial Budget),
State Tax and Fee Modifications Included in 2023 Wisconsin Act 19, and
General Transportation Aids in 2023 Act 19.

Housing Funding Opportunity

This session housing was one of the League's legislative priorities. Due to the successful passage of a series of housing incentives bills that are now law and provide $525 million in funding to generate additional workforce and senior housing, we wanted to alert members to this Federal Notice of Funding and related webinars.

The package of bills aimed to incentivize housing and reduce barriers to production in Wisconsin. In order for a developer in your community to be eligible for the new low or no interest loans, your municipality must make zoning modifications to help to reduce the overall costs associated with development. (See our Guidebook for recommendations on zoning revisions). This federal grant opportunity could help municipalities fund these zoning modifications.

Preview of the PRO Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity

HUD recently issued a preview of an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) — Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). Through competitive grants, HUD will provide $85 million in funding for communities across the country to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. PRO Housing supports communities that are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing, such as barriers caused by outdated zoning, land use policies, or regulations; inefficient procedures; gaps in available resources for development; deteriorating or inadequate infrastructure; lack of neighborhood amenities; or challenges to preserving existing housing stock. This first-of-its-kind funding will highlight communities who have committed to housing-forward policies and practices.

⭐ To learn more about the specifics of the PRO Housing NOFO and application requirements, HUD will host a series of webinars, with the first webinar on Thursday, August 3, 2023. For more information, see the FAQ document or visit the PRO Housing website.

PFAS Funding Opportunity - Short Deadline

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has announced new funding available to help communities address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in wastewater. The funds are made available to Wisconsin through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Currently, the department has identified $2.5 million in year one available and $5.75 million in year two.

The state’s Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP) is a state revolving loan fund that provides financial assistance to municipalities for wastewater and storm water infrastructure projects by providing reduced-interest rate loans, and in some cases, additional subsidy in the form of principal forgiveness to reduce the size of a loan. The Clean Water Fund Program now includes funding dedicated to projects that address emerging contaminants, such as PFAS.

Given that the program details were not available at the SFY 2024 Intent to Apply (ITA) submittal deadline, DNR is offering flexibility for this first year of the BIL supported program. If you are interested in applying but did not submit an ITA by the October 31, 2022 deadline, you can request a waiver to this deadline (for SFY 2024 only).

Email your ITA deadline variance request to Ryan Atkinson at Ryan.Atkinson@Wisconsin.gov by August 15, 2023 (earlier is encouraged) and include the WAMS ID of the person who will submit the ITA.
Submit the SFY 2024 ITA for EC projects through the online system by August 31, 2023.
Submit SFY 2024 CWFP Applications for EC projects with all required documentation though the online system by September 30, 2023. Include an approved facility plan and approvable plans and specifications.