Bill Adjusts Date for Determining CPI for ERP Purposes

January 25, 2021 | Number 4

DOR's Package of Law Changes Advances

Last week, committees in both houses held public hearings on AB 2/SB 2, a bill initiated by DOR containing various tax law changes and modifications to laws relating to the administration of municipal aid programs. The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means voted 11-1 to recommend passage of AB 2. The bill is a reintroduction of legislation that advanced through the Assembly last session but died in the Senate when the pandemic caused an early end to the session. The League supports the bill, which contains the following items affecting municipalities:

Expenditure restraint program changes.

Allows a community that failed to timely file the required Expenditure Restraint Program Worksheet to receive subsequent qualified payments early.
Adjusts the time for determining CPI for ERP purposes. Under the bill, the consumer price index is calculated using the 12 months ending on August 31, instead of September 30, to better align with the timing of local budgeting. The League requested this change.

Omitted Property. Requires that municipalities share revenue from omitted taxes with other taxing jurisdictions using the same guidelines as collecting refunded taxes from other taxing jurisdictions under the chargeback process.

Board of Review Training Requirements. Requires that all members of a board of review must complete training every year (at least electronically), and at least one member must attend in-person training.

Assessor Certification Fee Increase. Increases fee from $20 to $75.

Clarifies Tax Exemption for Leased Property owned by a Church. Allows property owned and operated by a church or religious institution to remain exempt from tax when leased to an educational association or institution that is also exempt from the taxation regardless of how the church or religious institution uses the leasehold income. (This change was not included in last session's bill but was added by the bill's author, Rep. Wittke. The Arch Diocese of Milwaukee seeks the change. The City of Milwaukee opposes this part of the bill.)

The Assembly will likely take up this bill when it meets on the floor this week.

IN THE NEWS

Wisconsin lawmakers introduce police reform package

Two Republican lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday designed to reform police use-of-force policies and investigations, including proposals that would ban training on chokeholds, punish municipalities that defund police departments and create a board to investigate officer-involved deaths and injuries. Read the article.

In 'thousands of complaints' about Wisconsin election, few that could be substantiated

“It’s going to take us years to get people to trust elections again,” she said. “My goal now is to educate legislators on what we do here in Fond du Lac County.”

The State Journal attempted to substantiate each of the specific claims reported to lawmakers. Here’s what the newspaper found. Read the article.

Going virtual: Operating remotely, local government bodies encounter opportunities, barriers

Though some recently elected local officials haven’t met each other in person yet, they could likely identify some of their colleagues’ work-from-home spaces, as seen regularly on Zoom meetings, with ease. Read the article.

Property taxes explainer video by City of Watertown

"If you have ever wondered what your property tax payment pays for, or how it is calculated, check out this video about property taxes!" Click here to watch, like and comment on this video with Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland produced by Watertown TV on the League's Facebook page.

Racine launches Mortgage Assistance Program for homeowners

The City of Racine launched its COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance Program, directing $520,000 towards helping City homeowners who may be behind on mortgage and utility payments due to the pandemic. Read the article. Click here to like, comment and share this story from the League's Facebook page.

Mauston adopts new standardized wage structure for city employees

The city of Mauston is adopting a standardized wage scale for all municipal employees following several months of debate. Read the article. Click here to like, comment or share this article on the League's Facebook page.

RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION

SB 8, Workers Compensation Coverage for Public Safety Officers Diagnosed with PTSD. This bill is a reintroduction of legislation that almost passed both houses last session. It makes changes to the conditions of liability for worker's compensation benefits for a law enforcement officer or a full-time professional fire fighter (public safety officer) who is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill provides that if a public safety officer is diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and the mental injury that resulted in that diagnosis is not accompanied by a physical injury, that public safety officer can bring a claim for worker's compensation benefits if the conditions of liability are proven by a preponderance of the evidence and the mental injury is not the result of a good-faith employment action by the person's employer. Sen. Jacque (R-De Pere). The League is neutral on this bill.

PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK

No public hearings are scheduled on municipal bills this week.

UPCOMING LEAGUE MEETINGS

League Membership Virtual Roundtable

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Zoom information is posted here on the League's Covid-19 page.

Chief Executives Winter Workshop

February 25, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm via Zoom

You can Register now.

Crisis Leadership; a local perspective
Alternative Revenue Sources
Tips for high-performing legislative bodies

Email questions or comments to:

Curt Witynski, Deputy Executive Director, [email protected]

Toni Herkert, Government Affairs Director, [email protected]