LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

June 26, 2017          No. 25

2017-18, No. 25
June 26, 2017

In this Issue:


Dark Store Public Hearing June 29

No State Budget Yet

In the News

Recently Introduced Legislation

Public Hearings
League of Wisconsin Municipalities
 
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Public Hearing June 29 on League's Dark Store and Walgreens Reversal Bills

The  Assembly Ways and Means Committee  is holding a public hearing on  AB 386  (Dark Store) and  AB 387  (Reversing the Walgreens v. City of Madison decision) at 10:00 on Thursday, June 29, in room 328 Northwest, State Capitol. For more information on these bills see our  dark store web page  and Overturn the Walgreens Decision page

If you are from a municipality that has been battling against assessment challenges brought by big box retail and Walgreens or CVS stores, then please consider testifying at next week's hearing and telling your community's story.  We need to educate committee members about the tax shift that is occurring as result of the tax reduction strategies and loopholes being used by certain commercial retail chains.  Your testimony is needed to counter the claims by the other side arguing to maintain the status quo. You can be assured the opponents of this legislation will be at the hearing. 

Since we noticed this hearing in the Capitol Buzz last Thursday, we have heard from many municipal officials planning to testify at the hearing.  

If you are planning to testify on Thursday, please plan on meeting Jerry Deschane in the Capitol rotunda before the hearing at 9:30 for a short strategy briefing.
State Budget Discussions Remain Stalled

According to WisPolitics, while the Joint Finance Committee is closer to a deal on K-12 funding, they remain far apart on a transportation package, which remains a key part of budget negotiations. Transportation has to be resolved before the building budget can be finalized because GOP lawmakers are sensitive to the final bonding number in the budget.

Committee members continue to discuss whether to embrace the Governor's recommendation to cut income taxes or to begin repealing the personal property tax.

After not meeting last week, it remained unclear if the committee would convene this week to begin voting again on the budget. If it doesn't, that could push committee deliberations into mid-July because its unlikely JFC will meet the week of July 4 with the holiday falling on a Tuesday this year.

Lobbying on Personal Property Tax Repeal. In the meantime, the League has joined with the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Realtors Association in lobbying JFC about the repeal of the personal property tax.  We are emphasizing that any repeal must:  1) Be appropriately structured to protect local government budgets and residential taxpayers for the long-term; and 2) Address the negative impacts on existing TIF districts.  

Read our joint memo to JFC here.
In the News

Wisconsin lawmakers will miss budget deadline as talks slow
The good news for state residents: When a two-year budget in Wisconsin expires, the state keeps running on its old tax and spending provisions until a new one is passed. That means there's no reason for panic when the state finds itself without a budget on July 1.
 
The bad news: There's no final deal yet on the budget and the Legislature's budget committee didn't even meet last week. Read the full article here...
 
Supreme Court rules against Wisconsin family's property rights claim
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld Wisconsin court rulings that the owners of a family cottage were not entitled to compensation over development regulations that bar the sale of the family's adjacent lot. Read the full article here...
Recently Introduced Legislation  

SB 323, Enabling the Creation of a Chippewa Valley Regional Transit Authority. By Sen. Vinehout (D-Alma).  The League supports this bill. Comment to the League on this bill

SB 332, Listing frac sand mining as a conditional or prohibited use in local zoning ordinances. Under this bill, with regard to a zoning ordinance that is enacted and relates  to agricultural use, frac sand mining must be listed as a conditional use. Also,  with regard to a zoning ordinance that is enacted and relates to residential  use, frac sand mining must be listed as a prohibited use. By Sen. Vinehout (D-Alma).  The League has not yet taken a position on this bill.  Comment to the League about this bill.  

SB 335Notice requirements for zoning actions related to frac sand miningUnder this bill, before a municipality may take any action on an application for a frac sand mine, the governing body must publish a class 2 notice at least 30 days before the meeting and must also send written notice of the meeting, by first class mail, at least 30 days before the meeting, to the owner or occupant of any land located within one mile of the proposed mine. By Sen. Vinehout (D-Alma). The League has not yet taken a position on this bill. Comment to the League

SB 336, Modifying Annual BID Report Requirements. The bill requires the board of a Business Improvement District (BID) that had a cash balance of less than $300,000 at all times during the prior fiscal year to include a reviewed financial statement in its public annual report instead of an independent certified audit. If the cash balance equaled or exceeded $300,000 at any time during the prior fiscal year, the BID is required to include an independent certified audit in its annual report. By Sen. LeMahieu (R-Oostburg). The League Has not yet taken a position on this bill. Comment to the League about this bill.
Public Hearings  

AB 386, the League's Dark Store Bill.  By Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, in room 328 Northwest, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.   

AB 387, Reversing the Walgreens v. City of Madison decision. By Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, in room 328 Northwest, State Capitol.  The League supports this bill.