2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 60
February 24, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives ALLEN, PIWOWARCZYK, BEHNKE,
BRILL, DITTRICH, GOEBEN, GREEN, GUNDRUM, KNODL, KREIBICH, MAXEY,
MURPHY, O'CONNOR and WICHGERS, cosponsored by Senators CABRAL-
GUEVARA, JACQUE, KAPENGA and NASS. Referred to Committee on Education.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to renumber and amend 67.05 (3) (d); to amend 38.16 (3) (br) 3.,
66.0602 (4) (c) and 121.91 (3) (c); to create 67.05 (3) (d) 3., 4. and 5. of the
statutes; relating to: referendum questions for certain referenda that affect
property taxes.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical
college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political
subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question
must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the
ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount
difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in
the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the
referendum.
Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units
authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a
resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of
borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized
to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other
things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which
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bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under
the bill, the question must also provide all of the following:
1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the
bonds.
2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased.
3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a
median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that
would result from passage of the referendum.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 38.16 (3) (br) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
38.16 (3) (br) 3. The referendum shall be held in accordance with chs. 5 to 12.
The district board shall provide the election officials with all necessary election
supplies. The form of the ballot shall correspond substantially with the standard
form for referendum ballots prescribed by the elections commission under ss. 5.64
(2) and 7.08 (1) (a). The question submitted shall be whether the limit under this
subsection may be exceeded by a specified amount. The question shall also provide
a good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference, as defined in s. 67.05 (3) (d) 5.,
that would result for a median-valued, single-family residence located in the district
if the referendum passes together with a statement of the property value used in
calculating the estimate. The limit otherwise applicable to the district under this
subsection is increased by the amount approved by a majority of those voting on the
question.
SECTION 2. 66.0602 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
66.0602 (4) (c) The referendum shall be held in accordance with chs. 5 to 12.
The political subdivision shall provide the election officials with all necessary
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election supplies. The form of the ballot shall correspond substantially with the
standard form for referendum ballots under ss. 5.64 (2) and 7.08 (1) (a). The
question shall be submitted as follows: XUnder state law, the increase in the levy of
the .... (name of political subdivision) for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal
year, .... (year), is limited to ....% (based on actual data or the political subdivision[s
best estimate), which results in a levy of $.... Shall the .... (name of political
subdivision) be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal
year, .... (year), for .... (purpose for which the increase will be used), by a total of ....%
(based on actual data or the political subdivision[s best estimate), which results in a
levy of $....?Y. The question shall also provide a good faith estimate of the dollar
amount difference, as defined in s. 67.05 (3) (d) 5., that would result for a median-
valued, single-family residence located in the district if the referendum passes
together with a statement of the property value used in calculating the estimate. If
the increase is for the next fiscal year only, the question shall include the
percentage increase in the levy from the previous year[s levy, and, if the increase is
on an ongoing basis, the question shall include the amount of the increase for each
fiscal year for which the increase applies.
SECTION 3. 67.05 (3) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 67.05 (3) (d) (intro.) and
amended to read:
67.05 (3) (d) (intro.) The question shall contain a all of the following:
1. A statement of the purpose for which bonds are to be issued and the.
2. The maximum amount of the bonds to be issued.
SECTION 4. 67.05 (3) (d) 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are created to read:
67.05 (3) (d) 3. The estimated interest rate and total amount of interest
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accruing on the maximum amount of bonds issued for the longest period authorized
under the referendum. If the interest rate is a variable rate, the statement shall
specify the amount of the interest accruing calculated by using the lowest rate
during the term for which the rate is applicable and the amount of the interest
accruing calculated by using the highest rate during the term for which the rate is
applicable.
4. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased.
5. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference that would result for
a median-valued, single-family residence located in the municipality if the
referendum passes together with a statement of the property value used in
calculating the estimate. In this subdivision, Xdollar amount differenceY means the
difference between the property taxes that would apply if the referendum passes
and the property taxes that would apply if the referendum does not pass.
SECTION 5. 121.91 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.91 (3) (c) A referendum under this subsection shall be held in accordance
with chs. 5 to 12. The school district clerk shall provide the election officials with
all necessary election supplies. The form of the ballot shall correspond
substantially with the standard form for referendum ballots prescribed by the
elections commission under ss. 5.64 (2) and 7.08 (1) (a). The question submitted
shall be whether the limit under sub. (2m) may be exceeded by a specified amount.
The question shall also provide a good faith estimate of the dollar amount
difference, as defined in s. 67.05 (3) (d) 5., that would result for a median-valued,
single-family residence located in the district if the referendum passes together
with a statement of the property value used in calculating the estimate. If the
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resolution provides that any of the excess revenue will be used for a nonrecurring
purpose, the ballot in the election shall so state and shall specify the amount that
will be used for a nonrecurring purpose. The limit otherwise applicable to the
school district under sub. (2m) is increased by the amount approved by a majority of
those voting on the question.
SECTION 6. Initial applicability.
(1) This act first applies to referenda held 90 days after the effective date of
this subsection.
(END)
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