League of Wisconsin Municipalities' Executive Director Jerry Deschane offers a legislative update for attendees at the Wisconsin Downtown Summit in La Crosse, WI.

1. Looking Forward to the 2017-18
Legislative Session
Fall 2016
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2. About the League
• Founded in 1898
• Nonpartisan
• Almost 600 members
• 190 (all) Cities
& 396 (most) Villages
• Median size city/village population 1,450
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3. More about us
Cities and villages are home to:
• 70 percent of state’s population
• 87 percent of all manufacturing property
• 89 percent of all commercial property
• Wisconsin’s metropolitan regions account for
75% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.
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4. League’s Lobby Team
Curt Gail Jerry
Plus: YOU!
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5. First, a Quick Look Back at the
2015-2016 Session
We had a good session.
Of the 53 bills the League supported, 31 were
enacted into law. 58% of bills we supported were
enacted.
Of the 17 bills we opposed, only 5 were enacted.
70% of the bills we opposed did not become law.
(Including SB 203 relating to BID assesments)
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6. When municipal officials talk
legislators listen!
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7. And we are doing more
talking!
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8. A Few Good Bills Enacted
into Law
Act 317, Charge-back of property tax refunds.
Act 392, Restoring $3 million to the recycling grant program.
Act 219, Prohibiting persons from acquiring municipally
owned land by adverse possession.
Four TIF Study Committee Bills
Act 286, Providing New Options for Municipalities to Issue
Above-Quota Liquor Licenses.
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9. Priorities for Next Session
Core Principles
• Strengthen local democracy
• Preserve local revenue sources, including
state shared revenue, the property tax, and
the property tax base
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10. Priorities for Next Session
• Fix the shortfall in transportation
funding.
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11. Priorities for Next Session
Stop more of property tax burden from
being shifted to homeowners:
– Oppose repeal of personal property tax
without holding municipalities harmless.
– Close Dark Store tax loophole used by
commercial property owners like Walgreens
and big box chains.
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12. End Dark Store Strategy
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13. Priorities for next Session
• Restore municipal authority to regulate location of cell
towers in residential districts.
• Enact four remaining TIF study committee bills, particularly:
• Bill increasing equalized value threshold from 12% to 15%; and
• Bill eliminating any statutory obstacles to allowing successful
TIDs to share tax increment with poorly performing TIDs.
• Make it easier for communities to invest in replacing
underground infrastructure, including lead water service
laterals.
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14. Priorities for next Session
• Pursue levy limit technical changes.
• Phosphorus -- Create more flexible options for
complying with phosphorus water quality
standards. Create incentives encouraging farmers
to implement best practices for reducing run-off.
• Restrict ability of newly incorporated
communities to immediately acquire town
remnant through annexation or boundary
agreement.
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15. How you can help
Develop and nurture relationships with your
legislators:
• Sign up for your Legislator’s Newsletters
• Make sure they receive your newsletter
• Invite them to your next event
• Give them a downtown tour
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16. Other Legislative Issues,
Questions and Comments?
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