League of Wisconsin Municipalities
 Capitol Buzz 
February 4, 2015
County Assessment -- A Correction and More Details

I misstated which municipalities can opt out of county wide assessment in last night's Capitol Buzz.  Under the Governor's budget proposal, 1st and 2nd class cities may elect to conduct their own assessments.  Such cities must inform the county by September 15, 2015, if they intend to conduct assessments independently of the county.  A first class city must have a population over 150,000.  Second class cities have populations between 39,000 and 150,000.   

 

Under the Governor's proposal, the county must charge each city, village and town for which the county performs the assessment a proportionate share of the cost of administering the assessment program. The amount that a county may charge a municipality under this paragraph may not exceed 95 percent of the amount the municipality paid to conduct its own assessments in 2015, increased by the municipality''s valuation factor as defined under levy limit law.    

 

We have not yet taken a position on this provision.  Please let us know what you think of the Governor's recommendation to go to county assessment.  

 

Recycling Grant Program

The proposed budget cuts the recycling grant program by $4 million in the first year of the biennium. The current funding level is $19 million, with a $1 million bonus grant for responsible units that work cooperatively.  The budget proposal would reduce the funding level from $19 million to $15 million in the first year of the biennium.  In the second year of the biennium the Governor is recommending that the funding level be restored back to $19 million. The Governor also recommends retaining the $1 million bonus grant for cooperating responsible units in both years of the budget.  For historical perspective purposes, in 2008 the funding for this grant program was at $32 million.