AB244: Bill Text

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 244

April 10, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Albers, Fields, Vukmir, Ballweg, Vos, Bies, Strachota, Gunderson, Townsend, Musser, Owens and Mursau, cosponsored by Senators Schultz and Lazich. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.

AB244,2,13 An Act to repeal 20.835 (1) (e), 70.11 (39) and (39m), 70.111, 70.112 (1), (5) and (6), 70.13, 70.14, 70.15, 70.18, 70.19, 70.20, 70.21, 70.22, 70.29, 70.30, 70.34, 70.345, 70.35, 70.36, 70.47 (15), 70.53 (1) (a), 70.64 (3) (c), 70.65 (2) (a) 2., 70.68, 70.995 (12r), 71.91 (5m) (b), 74.11 (4), 74.11 (11) (b), 74.11 (12) (a) 1g., 74.11 (12) (d), 74.12 (6), 74.12 (11) (a) 1g., 74.12 (11) (d), 74.13 (3), 74.25 (1) (b) 1., 74.30 (1) (i), 74.42, 74.47 (3) (e), 74.55, 76.69, 79.095 and 121.06 (4); to renumber 71.91 (5m) (a) and 74.11 (11) (a); to renumber and amend 74.87 (3) (a); to consolidate, renumber and amend 70.65 (2) (a) (intro.) and 1. and 74.25 (1) (b) (intro.) and 2.; to amend 17.14 (1) (g), 26.03 (1m) (b) (intro.), 33.01 (9) (a), 33.01 (9) (am) 1., 33.01 (9) (am) 2., 33.01 (9) (ar) 1., 33.01 (9) (b) 1., 38.28 (2) (b) 2., 66.0235 (2) (a), 66.0235 (2) (b), 66.0235 (2c) (a) 2., 66.0435 (3) (c) 1. b., 66.0435 (3) (g), 66.0517 (3) (b) 1., 66.1105 (2) (j), 67.101 (1) (b), 70.01, 70.02, 70.05 (5) (a) 1., 70.05 (5) (a) 1m., 70.07 (6), 70.075 (6), 70.10, 70.11 (4m) (a), 70.11 (9), 70.11 (11), 70.11 (12) (b), 70.11 (13), 70.11 (15), 70.11 (26), 70.11 (31), 70.11 (32), 70.112 (4) (b), 70.17 (1), 70.174, 70.365, 70.40 (5), 70.41 (5), 70.42 (5), 70.421 (1), 70.421 (5), 70.43 (2), 70.44 (1), 70.47 (7) (aa), 70.47 (14), 70.47 (16) (a), 70.48, 70.49 (2), 70.50, 70.52, 70.555, 70.65 (2) (b) (intro.), 70.73 (1) (b), 70.73 (1) (c), 70.73 (1) (d), 70.84, 70.995 (1) (a), 70.995 (4), 70.995 (7) (b), 70.995 (8) (b) 1., 70.995 (12) (a), 71.17 (2), 71.52 (7), 71.80 (1) (a), 73.03 (20), 73.06 (3), 74.05 (1), 74.09 (2), 74.11 (6) (a), 74.11 (10) (a), 74.11 (12) (a) (intro.), 74.11 (12) (b), 74.12 (7), 74.12 (8), 74.12 (9) (a), 74.12 (10) (a), 74.12 (11) (a) (intro.), 74.12 (11) (b), 74.13 (1) (b), 74.25 (1) (b) 3., 74.27, 74.29 (2), 74.30 (1m), 74.83, 76.025 (1), 76.03 (1), 76.07 (4g) (c) 1., 76.07 (4g) (c) 2., 76.125 (1), 76.48 (1r), 76.81, 77.04 (1), 77.54 (3) (b) 1., 77.84 (1), 79.03 (3) (b) 3., 79.03 (3) (b) 4. (intro.), 79.10 (1) (dm), 121.004 (6), 121.15 (4) (a), 121.90 (2) (intro.), 174.06 (5), 174.065 (3), 174.08 (1), 198.10 (1), 200.13 (2), 815.18 (3) (intro.) and 978.05 (6) (a); and to create 76.02 (2m) and 76.02 (4m) of the statutes; relating to: eliminating the personal property tax.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill eliminates the property tax on personal property. The bill also eliminates the state aid payments to taxing jurisdictions based on the value of computers and computer-related equipment that are exempt from the personal property tax and that are located in the taxing jurisdictions.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.

For further information see the state and 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:

AB244, s. 1 Section 1. 17.14 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,3 17.14 (1) (g) Failure to use the "Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual" provided under s. 73.03 (2a) and as required by s. 70.32 (1) and 70.34. The certification of any assessor removed under this paragraph may for sufficient reason be reinstated by the secretary of revenue after one year upon formal application for reinstatement.

AB244, s. 2 Section 2. 20.835 (1) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB244, s. 3 Section 3. 26.03 (1m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,11 26.03 (1m) (b) (intro.) Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply to a person harvesting raw forest products on public lands, as defined in s. 70.13 (7) that are owned by the United States, this state, or any political subdivision of this state, to a person harvesting raw forest products for fuel wood for his or her home consumption, to a person harvesting for the purpose of clearing the land for agricultural use, or to a person harvesting from the person's own land, any of the following:

AB244, s. 4 Section 4. 33.01 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,16 33.01 (9) (a) For the purpose of receiving notice under this chapter, a person whose name appears as an owner of real property on the tax roll under s. 70.65 (2) (a) 1. that was delivered under s. 74.03 on or before the 3rd Monday in December of the previous year.

AB244, s. 5 Section 5. 33.01 (9) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,20 33.01 (9) (am) 1. A person whose name appears as an owner of real property on the tax roll under s. 70.65 (2) (a) 1. that was delivered under s. 74.03 on or before the 3rd Monday in December of the previous year.

AB244, s. 6 Section 6. 33.01 (9) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,25 33.01 (9) (am) 2. The spouse of a person whose name appears as an owner of real property on the tax roll under s. 70.65 (2) (a) 1. that was delivered under s. 74.03 on or before the 3rd Monday in December of the previous year if the spouse is referred to on that tax roll.

AB244, s. 7 Section 7. 33.01 (9) (ar) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,4,4 33.01 (9) (ar) 1. The person's name appears as an owner of real property on the tax roll under s. 70.65 (2) (a) 1. that was delivered under s. 74.03 on or before the 3rd Monday in December of the previous year.

AB244, s. 8 Section 8. 33.01 (9) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,4,8 33.01 (9) (b) 1. Whose name appears as an owner of real property on the tax roll under s. 70.65 (2) (a) 1. that was delivered under s. 74.03 on or before the 3rd Monday in December of the previous year; or

AB244, s. 9 Section 9. 38.28 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,4,13 38.28 (2) (b) 2. The most current equalized values certified by the department of revenue shall be used in aid determinations. Equalized values shall include the full value of property that is exempt under s. 70.11 (39) and (39m) as determined under s. 79.095 (3).

AB244, s. 10 Section 10. 66.0235 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,5,7 66.0235 (2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or in s. 60.79 (2) (c) when territory is transferred, in any manner provided by law, from one local governmental unit to another, there shall be assigned to the latter local governmental unit such proportion of the assets and liabilities of the first local governmental unit as the assessed valuation of all taxable property in the territory transferred bears to the assessed valuation of all the taxable property of the entire local governmental unit from which the territory is taken according to the last assessment roll of the local governmental unit. The clerk of a local governmental unit to which territory is transferred, within 30 days of the effective date of the transfer, shall certify to the clerk of the local governmental unit from which territory was transferred and to the clerk of the school district in which the territory is located a metes and bounds description of the land area involved. Upon receipt of the description the clerk of the local governmental unit from which the territory was transferred shall certify to the department of revenue and to the clerk of the school district in which the territory is located the latest assessed value of the real and personal property located within the transferred territory, and shall make any further reports as needed by the department of revenue in the performance of duties required by law.

AB244, s. 11 Section 11. 66.0235 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,5,20 66.0235 (2) (b) When the transfer of territory from one local governmental unit to another results from the incorporation of a new city or village, the proportion of the assets and liabilities assigned to the new city or village shall be based on the average assessed valuation for the preceding 5 years of the property transferred in proportion to the average assessed valuation for the preceding 5 years of all the taxable property of the entire local governmental unit from which the territory is taken, according to the assessment rolls of the local governmental unit for those years. The certification by the clerk of the local governmental unit from which territory was transferred because of the incorporation shall include the assessed value of the real and personal property within the territory transferred for each of the last 5 years. The preceding 5 years shall include the assessment rolls for the 5 calendar years prior to the incorporation.

AB244, s. 12 Section 12. 66.0235 (2c) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,6,6 66.0235 (2c) (a) 2. The clerk of any school district to which territory is transferred, within 30 days of the effective date of the transfer, shall certify to the clerk of the local governmental unit from which the territory was transferred a metes and bounds description of the land area involved. Upon receipt of the description the clerk of the local governmental unit from which the territory was transferred shall certify to the department of revenue the latest assessed value of the real and personal property located within the transferred territory, file one copy of the certification with the school district clerk and one copy with the department of public instruction and make any further reports as needed by the department of revenue in the performance of duties required by law.

AB244, s. 13 Section 13. 66.0435 (3) (c) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,6,11 66.0435 (3) (c) 1. b. The fair market value, determined under subd. 1. a., minus the tax-exempt household furnishings thus established, shall be equated to the general level of assessment for the prior year on other real and personal property in the district.

AB244, s. 14 Section 14. 66.0435 (3) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,6,15 66.0435 (3) (g) Failure to timely pay the tax prescribed in this subsection shall be treated as a default in payment of personal property tax and is subject to all procedures and penalties applicable under chs. 70 and 74.

AB244, s. 15 Section 15. 66.0517 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,7,11 66.0517 (3) (b) 1. Except as provided in sub. (2) (b), a weed commissioner shall receive compensation for the destruction of noxious weeds as determined by the town board, village board, or city council upon presenting to the proper treasurer the account for noxious weed destruction, verified by oath and approved by the appointing officer. The account shall specify by separate items the amount chargeable to each piece of land, describing the land, and shall, after being paid by the treasurer, be filed with the town, village, or city clerk. The clerk shall enter the amount chargeable to each tract of land in the next tax roll in a column headed "For the Destruction of Weeds", as a tax on the lands upon which the weeds were destroyed. The tax shall be collected under ch. 74, except in case of lands which are exempt from taxation, railroad lands, or other lands for which taxes are not collected under ch. 74. A delinquent tax may be collected as is a delinquent real property tax under chs. 74 and 75 or as is a delinquent personal property tax under ch. 74. In case of railroad lands or other lands for which taxes are not collected under ch. 74, the amount chargeable against these lands shall be certified by the town, village, or city clerk to the secretary of administration who shall add the amount designated to the sum due from the company owning, occupying, or controlling the lands specified. The secretary of administration shall collect the amount chargeable as prescribed in subch. I of ch. 76 and return the amount collected to the town, city, or village from which the certification was received.

AB244, s. 16 Section 16. 66.1105 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,7,18 66.1105 (2) (j) "Tax incremental base" means the aggregate value, as equalized by the department of revenue, of all taxable property located within a tax incremental district on the date as of which the district is created, determined as provided in sub. (5) (b). The base of districts created before October 1, 1980, does not include the value of property exempted under s. 70.111 (17) merchants' stock-in-trade, manufacturers' materials and finished products, and livestock.

AB244, s. 17 Section 17. 67.101 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,7,25 67.101 (1) (b) Beginning on January 1, 1973, except interest which is received by the city as a part of the aggregate amounts from the sale of capital assets, one-third of all interest money received by the city treasury on any invested city funds and one-third of all interest received by the city treasury on any other funds to the interest of which the city is entitled including one-third of all interest received on delinquent personal property taxes.

AB244, s. 18 Section 18. 70.01 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,8,12 70.01 General Real property taxes; upon whom levied. Taxes shall be levied, under this chapter, upon all general real property in this state except property that is exempt from taxation. Real estate taxes and personal property taxes are deemed to be levied when the tax roll in which they are included has been delivered to the local treasurer under s. 74.03. When so levied such taxes are a lien upon the property against which they are charged. That lien is superior to all other liens, except a lien under s. 292.31 (8) (i) or 292.81, and is effective as of January 1 in the year when the taxes are levied. Liens of special assessments of benefits for local improvements shall be in force as provided by the charter or general laws applicable to the cities that make the special assessments. In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, references to "this chapter" do not include ss. 70.37 to 70.395.

AB244, s. 19 Section 19. 70.02 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,8,18 70.02 Definition of general property. General property is all the taxable real and personal property defined in ss. s. 70.03 and 70.04 except that which is taxed under ss. 70.37 to 70.395 and ch. 76 and subchs. I and VI of ch. 77. General property includes manufacturing property subject to s. 70.995, but assessment of that property shall be made according to s. 70.995.

AB244, s. 20 Section 20. 70.05 (5) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,8,22 70.05 (5) (a) 1. "Assessed value" means with respect to each taxation district the total values established under ss. s. 70.32 and 70.34, but excluding manufacturing property subject to assessment under s. 70.995.

AB244, s. 21 Section 21. 70.05 (5) (a) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,9,2 70.05 (5) (a) 1m. "Class of property" means residential under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 1.; commercial under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 2.; personal property; or the sum of undeveloped under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 5., agricultural forest under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 5m.;, productive forest land under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., and other under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 7.

AB244, s. 22 Section 22. 70.07 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,9,20 70.07 (6) The board of assessors shall remain in session until all corrections and changes have been made, including all those resulting from investigations by committees of objections to valuations filed with the commissioner of assessments as provided in this subsection, after which the commissioner of assessments shall prepare the assessment rolls as corrected by the board of assessors and submit them to the board of review not later than the 2nd Monday in October. The person assessed, having been notified of the determination of the board of assessors as required in sub. (4), shall be deemed to have accepted the determination unless the person notifies the commissioner of assessments in writing, within 15 days from the date that the notice of determination was issued under sub. (4), of the desire to present testimony before the board of review. After the board of review has met, the commissioner of assessments may appoint committees of the board of assessors to investigate any objections to the amount or valuation of any real or personal property which have been filed with the commissioner of assessments. The committees may at the direction of the commissioner of assessments report their investigation and recommendations to the board of review and any member of any such committee shall be a competent witness in any hearing before the board of review.

AB244, s. 23 Section 23. 70.075 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,9,25 70.075 (6) The board of assessors shall remain in session until all corrections and changes have been made, including all those resulting from investigations by committees of objections to valuations filed with the city assessor as provided in this section, after which the city assessor shall prepare the assessment rolls as corrected by the board of assessors and submit them to the board of review not later than the last Monday in July. A person assessed who has been notified of the determination of the board of assessors as required in sub. (4) is deemed to have accepted such determination unless the person notifies the city assessor in writing, within 15 days from the date that the notice of determination was issued under sub. (4), of a desire to present testimony before the board of review. After the board of review meets, the city assessor may appoint committees of the board of assessors to investigate any objections to the amount or valuation of any real or personal property which are referred to the city assessor by the board of review. The committees so appointed may at the city assessor's direction report their investigation and recommendations to the board of review and any member of any such committee shall be a competent witness in any hearing before the board of review.

AB244, s. 24 Section 24. 70.10 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,10,21 70.10 Assessment, when made, exemption. The assessor shall assess all real and personal property as of the close of January 1 of each year. Except in cities of the 1st class and 2nd class cities that have a board of assessors under s. 70.075, the assessment shall be finally completed before the first Monday in April. All real property conveyed by condemnation or in any other manner to the state, any county, city, village or town by gift, purchase, tax deed or power of eminent domain before January 2 in such year shall not be included in the assessment. Assessment of manufacturing property subject to s. 70.995 shall be made according to that section.

AB244, s. 25 Section 25. 70.11 (4m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,11,13 70.11 (4m) (a) Real property owned and used and personal property used exclusively for the purposes of any hospital of 10 beds or more devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment or care of the sick, injured, or disabled, which hospital is owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, except an organization that is organized under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch. 618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited service health organization, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer, and which hospital is not operated principally for the benefit of or principally as an adjunct of the private practice of a doctor or group of doctors. This exemption does not apply to property used for commercial purposes, as a health and fitness center or as a doctor's office. The exemption for residential property shall be limited to dormitories of 12 or more units which house student nurses enrolled in a state accredited school of nursing affiliated with the hospital.

AB244, s. 26 Section 26. 70.11 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,12,2 70.11 (9) Memorials. All memorial halls and the real estate upon which the same are located, owned and occupied by any organization of United States war veterans organized pursuant to act of congress and domesticated in this state pursuant to the laws of this state, containing permanent memorial tablets with the names of former residents of any given town, village, city or county who lost their lives in the military or naval service of the state or the United States in any war inscribed thereon, and all personal property owned by such organizations, and all buildings erected, purchased or maintained by any county, city, town or village as memorials under s. 45.72. The renting of such halls or buildings for public purposes shall not render them taxable, provided that all income derived therefrom be used for the upkeep and maintenance thereof. Where such hall or building is used in part for exempt purposes and in part for pecuniary profit, it shall be assessed for taxation to the extent of such use for pecuniary profit as provided in s. 70.1105 (1).

AB244, s. 27 Section 27. 70.11 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,12,7 70.11 (11) Bible camps. All real property not exceeding 30 acres and the personal property situated therein, of any Bible camp conducted by a religious nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of this state, so long as the property is used for religious purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any individual.

AB244, s. 28 Section 28. 70.11 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,12,13 70.11 (12) (b) Real property not exceeding 40 acres and the personal property located thereon owned by units which are not organized in this state of the organizations listed in par. (a). No such unit which is not organized in this state may claim an exemption for more than a total of 80 rods of shoreline on lakes, rivers and streams.

AB244, s. 29 Section 29. 70.11 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,12,21 70.11 (13) Cemeteries. Land owned by cemetery authorities, as defined in s. 157.061 (2), and used exclusively as public burial grounds and tombs and monuments therein, and privately owned burial lots; land adjoining such burial grounds, owned and occupied exclusively by the cemetery authority for cemetery purposes; personal property owned by any cemetery authority and necessary for the care and management of burial grounds; burial sites and contiguous lands which are cataloged under s. 157.70 (2) (a).

AB244, s. 30 Section 30. 70.11 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,12,25 70.11 (15) Manure storage facilities. Any manure storage facility used by a farmer. This exemption shall apply whether the facility is deemed personal property or is so affixed to the realty as to be classified as real estate.

AB244, s. 31 Section 31. 70.11 (26) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,13,5 70.11 (26) Property of industrial development agencies. All real and personal property owned by an industrial development agency formed under s. 59.57 (2). Any such property subject to contract of sale or lease shall be taxed as personal property to the vendee or lessee thereof.

AB244, s. 32 Section 32. 70.11 (31) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,13,13 70.11 (31) Sports and entertainment facilities. Real and personal property consisting of or contained in a sports and entertainment facility, including related or auxiliary structures, constructed by a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of donation to the state or to an instrumentality of the state, if the state indicates by legislative or executive action that it will accept the facility. This exemption shall apply during construction and operation if the facility is owned by a nonprofit corporation, the state or an instrumentality of the state.

AB244, s. 33 Section 33. 70.11 (32) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,13,24 70.11 (32) Nonprofit youth hockey associations. Land not exceeding 13 acres, and the buildings on that land and personal property, if the land is owned or leased by and the buildings and personal property are owned by, and all the property is used exclusively for the purposes of, a nonprofit youth hockey association, except that the exemption under this subsection does not apply to the property of a nonprofit youth hockey association if any of its property was funded in whole or in part by industrial revenue bonds unless that association's facilities were placed in operation after January 1, 1988. Leasing all or a portion of the property does not render that property taxable if all of the leasehold income is used for maintenance of the leased property.

AB244, s. 34 Section 34. 70.11 (39) and (39m) of the statutes are repealed.

AB244, s. 35 Section 35. 70.111 of the statutes is repealed.

AB244, s. 36 Section 36. 70.112 (1), (5) and (6) of the statutes are repealed.

AB244, s. 37 Section 37. 70.112 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,14,13 70.112 (4) (b) If real or tangible personal property is used more than 50% 50 percent, as determined by the department of revenue, in the operation of a telephone company that is subject to the tax imposed under s. 76.81, the department of revenue shall assess the property and that property shall be exempt from the general property taxes imposed under this chapter. If real or tangible personal property is used less than 50% 50 percent, as determined by the department of revenue, in the operation of a telephone company that is subject to the tax imposed under s. 76.81, the taxation district in which the property is located shall assess the property and that property shall be subject to the general property taxes imposed under this chapter.

AB244, s. 38 Section 38. 70.13 of the statutes is repealed.

AB244, s. 39 Section 39. 70.14 of the statutes is repealed.