This Week in the Legislature: Week of February 23, 2015 

"Right to Work" 
Last Friday, leadership in the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly announced their intention to call an extraordinary session on "Right to Work" legislation. The  "Right to Work" bill draft (LRB-0956/1) was released late Friday afternoon.

The Extraordinary Session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.  The Senate will take up the legislation first with a public hearing before the Senate Labor and Government Reform Committee scheduled for Tuesday, and Senate floor action tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. The "Right to Work" legislation will be taken up in the Assembly the first week of March.

Gubernatorial Appointments 
On February 16, 2015, Governor Walker announced the following staff changes. The most notable change is the top position in the Department of Administration.
  • Scott Neitzel - Secretary, Department of Administration
  • Michael Huebsch - Commissioner, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC)
  • Cate Zeuske - Deputy Secretary, Department of Administration
  • Tricia Braun - Chief Operating Officer, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
  • Brian Schimming - Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)
  • Ellen Nowak - Chairperson, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), effective March 1
  • Bob Seitz - Executive Assistant to incoming Chairperson, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Countywide Property Tax Assessment 
Governor Walker's 2015-17 state biennial budget recommends transitioning the property tax assessment process from a municipality-based system to a county-based system beginning in 2016 with full implementation by the 2017 property assessment year.  While we understand the Department of Revenue is seeking efficiencies within the current assessment system, the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is opposed to this proposal due to the new costs counties would be forced to absorb.  

According to the proposal, counties would be required to annually assess each property at 100% of fair market value, but may form multi-county assessment regions.  Local boards of review-currently a municipal function-would also be consolidated at the county level. The Governor's budget does, however, provide 1st and 2nd class cities with the option to conduct their own assessments.  

On the funding side, the Governor allows counties to charge municipalities for a portion of assessment costs.  The maximum annual amount a county may charge a municipality is 95% of what a municipality paid for assessment services in 2015.

WCA has numerous concerns with the proposal including the proposed timeline, funding mechanism, new mandates placed on county staff, and current assessment contracts.  In an era of stringent property tax controls, any proposal calling for countywide assessment must assure counties will not be responsible for additional costs.  

Major Issues of Concern:

Mandated Transition
The proposal mandates that counties perform all duties relating to the assessment process.  In the past, county assessment was optional and state funding was available. WCA requests that this proposal be at county-option.  

Timeline
The 2017 implementation date is not feasible.  Not only are counties not currently responsible for assessing properties, but counties also do not have experience in other aspects of the assessment process, including the board of review process.  County clerks may also be required to perform duties currently prescribed to municipal clerks, while the proposal does not include additional funding.

Funding Mechanism
The proposal sets 2015 as the base year for determining the amount of costs counties can pass on to municipalities.  In all likelihood, 2015 will be a maintenance year-as opposed to a complete revaluation year-for most communities, meaning counties will only be allowed to pass on 95% of those maintenance costs in future years.  This represents an underfunded mandate because counties are required to keep all assessments at 100% of fair market value, which requires annual adjustments.  After base year (2015) costs are established, the proposal only allows counties to increase the costs they pass on to municipalities by a percentage equal to changes in property value due to net new construction; net new construction is typically less than the consumer price index (i.e., inflation).

Preemption of Local Spending Authority
The proposal requires counties to create an office of assessment and designate an assessment administrator.  The proposal preempts local decision-making by having the state Department of Administration recommend a "reasonable salary range for the county assessor for each county based upon pay for comparable work or qualifications in that county."  The proposal also states that the Department of Revenue will "assist the county in establishing the budget for the county assessor's offices, including the number of personnel and their qualification, based on the anticipated workload."  WCA opposes this provision as compensation and staffing for county offices and employees should be determined by the county.    

Assessment Contracts
One of the major unknowns as it relates to the proposal is the treatment of current assessment contracts.  While the proposal calls for implementation by 2017, many communities are currently engaged in multi-year contracts with local assessors.  The proposal does not specify whether counties would be responsible for payments under these contracts.  

Updated Budget Summary Available 
An updated version of WCA's summary of the Governor's budget bill has been posted to the WCA website and can be accessed by clicking here

Committee Hearings for the Week of February 23, 2015 
Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  For a complete listing of weekly hearings, please visit here.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Assembly Committee on Children and Families, 10:00 a.m.
Informational Hearing (no public testimony): Department of Children and Families Deputy Secretary Ron Hunt will provide a general overview of the department and agency staff will present on the four divisions. WCA is monitoring this hearing.

Thursday, February 26, 2015
Assembly Committee on Corrections, 10:00 a.m.
Informational Hearing (no public testimony): Representatives from the Department of Corrections will provide an overview of their role in oversight of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. WCA is monitoring this hearing.

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, 10:30 a.m.
Assembly Bill 49 - waiting period for handgun purchases. WCA is monitoring this bill.

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website.
 
Upcoming WCA Legislative Meetings 
Regional Legislative Meetings
Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties.  This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2015-2016 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2015-17 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.

Following please find a list of the dates, times and locations of the 2015 Regional Legislative Meetings. Please feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you (even if a different district).  No registration is necessary.

Monday, March 9, 2015: Southern District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
North Star Conference Center/Comfort Inn & Suites
5025 County Rd. V, DeForest, WI 53532
Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk

Wednesday, March 11, 2015: Northwest District
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Heartwood Conference Center
N10884 Hoinville Road, Trego, WI 54888
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn

Thursday, March 12, 2015: West Central District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Off Broadway Banquet & Conference Center
1501 North Broadway, Menomonie, WI 54751
Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix

Friday, March 13, 2015: Western District
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
200 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601
Adams, Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon

Monday, March 16, 2015: Southeast District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center
3000 Pleasant Valley Rd., West Bend, WI 53095
Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha

Wednesday, March 18, 2015: North Central District
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Quality Inn
668 West Kemp St., Rhinelander, WI 54501
Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood

Thursday, March 19, 2015: East Central District
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
333 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911
Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago

For a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings, please click here.

"What are Counties" Video and Other Resources Now Online 
On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the WCA Legislative Exchange in Madison, the Wisconsin Counties Association launched a new toolkit for county officials and interested parties to help educate people on the role of counties in their lives. 

The "What are Counties" video, brochure and PowerPoint presentation are now on the WCA website and can be found by clicking here! 

Questions? Contact Our Government Affairs Team  
If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team at 866.404.2700 or via email:

Kyle Christianson - Director of Government Affairs
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf - Deputy Director of Government Affairs
David Callender - Government Affairs Associate
Daniel Bahr - Government Affairs Associate 
 
 
Member Services: WisPolitics & The Wheeler Report
Members of the Wisconsin Counties Association are eligible for a free email subscription for WisPolitics.com and The Wheeler Report. These daily email updates are an invaluable resource for those interested in keeping up with the day-to-day activities of the Legislature and include in-depth "insider" information on state politics. 

 

To begin your free subscription, please contact Amy Dias of WCA at 866.404.2700 or
with your name, your county name and the email address where you would like subscriptions sent.   
Wisconsin Counties Association
22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
866.404.2700