Tax Levy Freeze Fails
Real Property Tax Issues
The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) believes that a proposal introduced by a group of legislators that would freeze the tax levy does not address the real issues driving the property tax.
“No one is more concerned about rising property taxes than county officials,” said WCA Executive Director Mark D. O’Connell. “For over a decade now, we have been calling on the legislature to address the real issues that drive the property tax – promises for services and programs the state has made to the citizens on behalf of counties without the necessary state dollars to fulfill those promises.”
Counties run and administer the state’s court system, juvenile delinquency programs, foster care programs and programs for children in need of protection and services, as well as provide services to developmentally disabled children and adults, and operate and maintain a jail.
“These programs, many of which are state programs, are just a smattering of the services counties provide to the taxpayers,” said O’Connell. “From services to the elderly and our children, a freeze in the tax levy equates to a direct cut in the level of services provided to our most vulnerable citizens.”
In addition to mandated programs and services that counties provide, the tax levy freeze does not take into consideration the rising cost of health care insurance that counties must pay for their employees, as well as employee contracts many of which have already been negotiated through 2004.
WCA cited other factors which impact the property tax, including the state’s proposal to implement a 12 percent rate increase it charges counties for children sent to the state’s juvenile correctional institutions (JCIs).
“If the state is going to freeze tax levies, they ought to start at home and freeze rates they charge to counties for JCI placements, as well as state mental health centers,” said Richard Nyklewicz Jr., WCA Board Member and Milwaukee County Supervisor. “It only makes sense.”
“If we are going to be real about reducing property taxes, then the state needs to clearly identify which programs or services need to be cut,” said O’Connell. “Freezing levies in order to address rising property taxes is like simply telling a patient to stop bleeding rather than bandaging the wound. It just won’t work.”
-
As the budget debate continues, O’Connell stressed the commitment from counties to work with the state to find workable solutions to the state’s current fiscal crisis. “One thing we are in agreement on is that we want to get a handle on property taxes,” said O’Connell. “Unfortunately, until a real debate occurs about the level of services we are willing to provide and who should fund those services, this proposal is not the way to accomplish this goal.”
FOR MORE STORIES SEE MENU AT RIGHT
WISCONSIN INFOSEARCH Powered ByWebMeUSASEARCH
|
Counties
Localities
|
Metro Areas
Regions
|
Arts and Entertainment
Business and Economy
Education
Employment
Government
Guides and Directories
Health
Maps and Views
|
News and Media
Real Estate
Recreation and Sports
Science and Environment
Society and Culture
Transportation
Travel and Tourism
Weather
|
|
WISCONSIN GOVLINKS
|
|
WISCONSIN OTHERLINKS
|
|
|
CONTACT WISCONSIN REPORT
|
|
|
WHERE TO SEND YOUR OPINION FOR PUBLICATION
|
|
|
WISCONSIN REPORT is Published Online By Magicmedia Division of MORBIZCO.
COPYRIGHT 2002 MORBIZCO - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
|
 |
|
|
