Fiscal Note
No appropriation necessary
Title
Support for a Strong State & Local Partnership: Shared Revenue Funds Critical Services
Body
WHEREAS, for over ninety years the state shared revenue program has been a key component of Wisconsin’s state and local relationship and an important part of the state’s overall program of property tax relief; and
WHEREAS, over the last 20 years shared revenue funding for municipalities has been cut by $94 million; and
WHEREAS, over the last generation, property taxes have grown as a share of city and village revenues as shared revenue and other state aid to Wisconsin municipalities has lagged; and
WHEREAS, state aid provided a larger share of municipal revenues in Wisconsin than property taxes from 1975 to 1997. Today property taxes account for more than twice as much municipal revenue as state aid; and
WHEREAS, to create and maintain quality communities that attract businesses and families, municipalities must invest in services and infrastructure that people and businesses expect, like police protection, fire suppression, road maintenance, snowplowing, libraries, and parks; and
WHEREAS, the state should reinvest a portion of its sales and income tax revenue growth in local communities to spur further economic growth and make Wisconsin communities places where people want to live and work, and;
WHEREAS, if shared revenue to the city had increased at the rate of inflation since 1984, the City of Madison would have over five times the amount of shared revenue that it currently receives, thereby helping support essential and equitable services and reduce the property tax burden for city residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison calls on the Legislature to pass a state budget increasing funding for the shared revenue program and directs the Clerk to send a copy of this resolution to the state legislators representing the City of Madison, to Governor Tony Evers and to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.