77.88(2)(e)
(e) The transferred land shall remain managed forest land if the transferee, within 30 days after the transfer, certifies to the department an intent to comply with the existing management plan for the land and with any amendments to the plan, and provides proof that each person holding any encumbrance on the land agrees to the designation. The transferee may designate an area of the transferred land closed to public access as provided under
s. 77.83. The department shall issue an order continuing the designation of the land as managed forest land under the new ownership.
77.88(2)(f)
(f) If the transferee does not provide the department with the certification required under
par. (e), the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land and shall assess against the transferee the withdrawal tax under
sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under
sub. (5m). Notwithstanding
s. 77.90, the transferee is not entitled to a hearing on an order withdrawing land under this paragraph.
77.88(3)
(3) Voluntary withdrawal. An owner may request that the department withdraw all or any part of the owner's land meeting one of the requirements specified under
sub. (2) (a) 1. to
3. If any remaining land meets the eligibility requirements under
s. 77.82 (1), the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land subject to the request and shall assess against the owner the withdrawal tax under
sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under
sub. (5m).
77.88(3m)
(3m) Withdrawal for failure to pay personal property taxes. If an owner of managed forest land has not paid the personal property tax due for a building on managed forest land before the February settlement date under
s. 74.30 (1), the municipality in which the building is located shall certify to the department that a delinquency exists and shall include the legal description of the managed forest land on which the building is located in the certification. Immediately after receiving the certification, the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land as managed forest land and shall assess against the owner of the land the withdrawal tax under
sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under
sub. (5m). Notwithstanding
s. 77.90, the owner is not entitled to a hearing on an order withdrawing land under this subsection.
77.88(4)
(4) Nonrenewal. If an owner does not file with the department an application to renew a managed forest land order, the department shall order the land withdrawn at the expiration of the order. No withdrawal tax under
sub. (5) or withdrawal fee under
sub. (5m) may be assessed.
77.88(5)
(5) Withdrawal tax. The withdrawal tax shall be determined as follows:
77.88(5)(a)
(a) Except as provided in
pars. (am),
(ar), and
(b), for land withdrawn during a managed forest land order, the withdrawal tax shall be the higher of the following:
77.88(5)(a)1.
1. An amount equal to the past tax liability multiplied by the number of years the land was designated as managed forest land, less any amounts paid by the owner under
ss. 77.84 (2) (a) and
(am) and
77.87.
77.88(5)(am)
(am) For land that is withdrawn within 10 years after the date on which an initial managed forest land order was issued under
s. 77.82 (8) for an application approved under
s. 77.82 (7) (d), the withdrawal tax shall be the higher of the following:
77.88(5)(am)2.
2. The amount calculated under
s. 77.10 (2) that would have applied to the land on the date on which the order was issued for the land under
s. 77.82 (8).
77.88(5)(ar)
(ar) If any land designated as managed forest land under an expanded order is withdrawn before the expiration date of the original order, the withdrawal tax shall be the sum of the following:
77.88(5)(ar)1.
1. For the portion of the land that is designated as managed forest land under the original order, an amount equal to the product of the total net property tax rate in the municipality in the year prior to the year in which the expanded order is approved and the assessed value of the land for the same year, as computed by the department of revenue, multiplied by the number of years under the original order, less any amounts paid by the owner under
ss. 77.84 (2) (a) and
77.87 during the time the land was designated as managed forest land under the original order.
77.88(5)(ar)2.
2. An amount equal to the product of the total net property tax rate in the municipality in the year prior to this withdrawal and the assessed value of the land for the same year, as computed by the department of revenue, multiplied by the number of years the land was designated as land under the expanded order, less any amounts paid by the owner under
ss. 77.84 (2) (am) and
77.87 during the time the land is designated as managed forest land under the expanded order.
77.88(5)(b)
(b) For land withdrawn after the renewal of a managed forest land order, the withdrawal tax shall be the higher of the following:
77.88(5)(b)1.
1. An amount equal to the past tax liability multiplied by the number of years since the renewal, less any amounts paid by the owner under
ss. 77.84 (2) (a) and
(am) and
77.87.
77.88(5)(c)
(c) For purposes of
pars. (a) 1. and
(b) 1., if the parcel of land is located in a single municipality, the past tax liability is an amount equal to the product of the total net property tax rate for that municipality in the year prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the assessed value of the parcel of land for the same year, as computed by the department of revenue. For purposes of
pars. (a) 1. and
(b) 1., if the parcel is located in more than one municipality, the past tax liability is an amount equal to the sum of the products calculated by multiplying the total net property tax rate for each municipality in the year prior to the withdrawal by the corresponding assessed value of the land in that municipality for the same year, as computed by the department of revenue.
77.88(5g)(a)(a) Upon the request of an owner of managed forest land, the department of revenue, with the assistance of the department, shall prepare an estimate of the amount of withdrawal tax that would be assessed under
sub. (5) if the department were to issue an order to withdraw the land under this section.
77.88(5g)(b)
(b) A request from an owner under this subsection shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee payable to the department of revenue of either $100 or the alternative nonrefundable fee calculated under
par. (c), whichever is greater.
77.88(5g)(c)
(c) The alternative nonrefundable fee shall be calculated by multiplying the total number of whole and partial acres by $5.
77.88(6)
(6) Determination of stumpage value. In determining the stumpage value of merchantable timber for purposes of this section, an estimator agreed upon by the parties or, if they cannot agree, a forester appointed by a judge of the circuit court in the county in which the land is located shall estimate the volume of merchantable timber on the land. The estimate obtained shall be final. The department shall determine the current stumpage value of the merchantable timber, based on the applicable stumpage value established under
s. 77.91 (1). The owner shall pay the entire cost of obtaining the estimate.
77.88(7)
(7) Payment; delinquency. Taxes under
sub. (5) and fees under
sub. (5m) are due and payable to the department on the last day of the month following the effective date of the withdrawal order. Amounts received shall be credited to the conservation fund. If the owner of the land fails to pay the tax or fee, the department shall certify to the taxation district clerk the amount due. The taxation district clerk shall enter the delinquent amount on the property tax roll as a special charge.
77.88(8)(a)(a) No withdrawal tax or withdrawal fee may be assessed against an owner who does any of the following:
77.88(8)(a)1.
1. Transfers ownership of managed forest land for a public road or railroad or utility right-of-way.
77.88(8)(a)2.
2. Transfers ownership of managed forest land for a park, recreational trail, wildlife or fish habitat area or a public forest to the federal government, the state or a local governmental unit, as defined in
s. 66.0131 (1) (a).
77.88(8)(a)3.
3. Transfers ownership of or leases not more than 10 acres of managed forest land to a county, city, village, or town for siting a public safety communications tower.
77.88(8)(b)
(b) The department may not order withdrawal of land remaining after a transfer of ownership is made under
par. (a) 1.,
2., or
3. or after a lease is entered into under
par. (a) 3. unless the remainder fails to meet the eligibility requirements under
s. 77.82 (1).
77.88(9)
(9) Order; miscellaneous provisions. 77.88(9)(a)(a) Each withdrawal order issued under this section shall include the legal description of the land withdrawn.
77.88(9)(b)
(b) The department shall notify the owner in writing of the withdrawal order, stating the reason for the withdrawal.
77.88(9)(c)
(c) The department shall mail a copy of the withdrawal order to each person specified under
s. 77.82 (8).
77.88(9)(d)
(d) A withdrawal order issued before December 15 of any year takes effect on the January 1 after the date of issuance. A withdrawal order issued on or after December 15 of any year takes effect on the 2nd January 1 after the date of issuance.
77.88(9)(e)
(e) If less than a total parcel of managed forest land is withdrawn, the department shall amend the order under
s. 77.82 and the management plan to correct the description of the remaining land.
77.88(10)
(10) Applicable taxes. Chapter 70 applies to any land withdrawn from the managed forest land program under this section.
77.88(11)
(11) Liability for previous taxes. Withdrawal of land under this section does not affect the liability of the owner for previously levied taxes under
s. 77.84 or
77.87.
77.88 Annotation
The withdrawal provision of sub. (2) (f) is directory upon the DNR and therefore does not require the DNR to withdraw the subject property from the managed forest land program due to noncompliance with certification requirements. Warnecke v. Warnecke, 2006 WI App 62,
292 Wis. 2d 438,
713 N.W.2d 109,
05-0021.
77.885
77.885
Withdrawal of tribal lands. Upon request of an Indian tribe, the department shall order the withdrawal of land that is owned in fee that is designated as managed forest land from the managed forest land program. No withdrawal tax under
s. 77.88 (5) or withdrawal fee under
s. 77.88 (5m) may be assessed against an Indian tribe for the withdrawal of such land if all of the following apply:
77.885(1)
(1) The Indian tribe provides the department the date of the order to transfer the land to the United States to be held in trust for the tribe.
77.885(2)
(2) The tribe and the department have in effect a written agreement under which the tribe agrees that the land shall continue to be treated as managed forest land until the date on which the managed forest land order would have expired.
77.885 History
History: 2009 a. 28.
77.89
77.89
Distribution of moneys received. 77.89(1)
(1)
Payment to municipalities. By June 30 of each year, the department, from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (5) (bv), shall pay 100 percent of each payment received under
ss. 77.84 (3) (b) and
77.87 (3) and 100 percent of each withdrawal tax payment received under
s. 77.88 (7) to the treasurer of each municipality in which is located the land to which the payment applies.
77.89(2)(a)(a) Each municipal treasurer shall pay 20% of each payment received under
sub. (1) and under
ss. 77.84 (2) (a) and
(am),
77.85, and
77.876 to the county treasurer and shall deposit the remainder in the municipal treasury. The payment to the county treasurer for money received before November 1 of any year shall be made on or before the November 15 after its receipt. For money received on or after November 1 of any year, the payment to the county treasurer shall be made on or before November 15 of the following year.
77.89(2)(b)
(b) The municipal treasurer shall pay all amounts received under
s. 77.84 (2) (b) and
(bm) to the county treasurer, as provided under
ss. 74.25 and
74.30. The county treasurer shall, by June 30 of each year, pay all amounts received under this paragraph to the department. All amounts received by the department shall be credited to the conservation fund and shall be reserved for land acquisition, resource management activities, and grants under
s. 77.895.
77.895
77.895
Grants for land acquisitions for outdoor activities. 77.895(1)(a)
(a) "Board" means the managed forest land board.
77.895(1)(b)
(b) "Land" means land in fee simple, conservation easements, and other easements in land.
77.895(1)(c)
(c) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, or county.
77.895(2)
(2) Program. The department shall establish a program to award grants to nonprofit conservation organizations, to local governmental units, and to itself to acquire land to be used for hunting, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, and cross-country skiing. The board shall administer the program and award the grants under the program.
77.895(3)
(3) Requirements. The department, in consultation with the board, shall promulgate rules establishing requirements for awarding grants under this section. The rules promulgated under this subsection shall include all of the following:
77.895(3)(a)
(a) A requirement that the board give higher priority to counties over other grant applicants in awarding grants under this section.
77.895(3)(b)
(b) A requirement that, in awarding grants to counties under this section, the board give higher priority to counties that have higher numbers of acres that are designated as closed under
s. 77.83.
77.895(3)(c)
(c) A requirement that, in awarding grants to towns under this section, the board give higher priority to towns that have higher numbers of acres that are designated as closed under
s. 77.83.
77.895(3)(d)
(d) A requirement that no grant may be awarded under this section without it being approved by the board of each county in which the land to be acquired is located.
77.895(3)(e)
(e) Requirements concerning the use of sound forestry practices on land acquired under this section.
77.895(3)(fm)
(fm) A requirement that no more than 10 percent of grant funding available under this section may be used to acquire parcels of land that are less than 10 acres in size.
77.895(3)(gm)
(gm) A requirement that land acquired with a grant under this section be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping during all applicable hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons.
77.895(4)
(4) Use of land. Land acquired under this section may be used for purposes in addition to those specified in
sub. (2) if the additional uses are compatible with the purposes specified in
sub. (2).
77.895 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
77.90
77.90
Right to hearing. An applicant under
s. 77.82 or an owner of managed forest land who is adversely affected by a decision of the department under this subchapter is entitled to a contested case hearing under
ch. 227.
77.90 History
History: 1985 a. 29;
2009 a. 365.
77.905
77.905
Procedure in forfeiture actions. The procedure in
ss. 23.50 to
23.85 applies to actions to recover forfeitures brought under this subchapter.
77.905 History
History: 1989 a. 79.
77.91
77.91
Miscellaneous provisions. 77.91(1)
(1)
Stumpage values. Each year the department shall establish reasonable stumpage values for the merchantable timber grown in the municipalities in which managed forest land is located. If the department finds that stumpage values vary in different parts of the state, it may establish different zones and specify the stumpage value for each zone. The stumpage value shall take effect on November 1 of each year. Notwithstanding
s. 227.11, the department may not promulgate or have in effect rules that established stumpage values.
77.91(2)
(2) Publication of information. 77.91(2)(a)(a) The department, with the cooperation of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, shall publish and distribute information describing the managed forest land program, including the applicable taxes and penalties and the forestry and resource management practices that are acceptable as part of a management plan.
77.91(2)(b)
(b) The department shall prepare, update annually and, by March 31 of each year, offer for sale to the public information describing the location of managed forest land designated as open under
s. 77.83.
77.91(3)
(3) Study. The department and the University of Wisconsin-Extension shall study and evaluate the first 5 years of the operation of the managed forest land program to determine whether it has achieved the purposes specified under
s. 77.80 and shall, before January 1, 1992, submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3). This subsection applies from July 1, 1989 to December 31, 1991.
77.91(3m)
(3m) Report to legislature. Beginning with calendar year 1992, the department shall calculate for each calendar year whether the amount of land exempt from penalty or tax under
s. 77.10 (2) (c),
77.16 (11m) or
77.88 (8) that is withdrawn during that calendar year under
s. 77.10 or
77.88 or declassified or withdrawn under
s. 77.16 (7) exceeds 1% of the total amount of land that is subject to contracts under
subch. I or subject to orders under this subchapter on December 31 of that calendar year. If the amount of withdrawn or classified land that is so exempt exceeds 1%, the department shall make a report of its calculations to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3).
77.91(4)
(4) Expenses. Except as provided in
sub. (5), the department's expenses for the administration of this subchapter shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (mv).
77.91(5)
(5) Recording. Each register of deeds who receives notice of an order under this subchapter shall record the action as provided under
s. 59.43 (1). The department shall pay the register of deeds the fee specified under
s. 59.43 (2) (ag) 1. from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (cr). If the amount in the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (cr) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount required under this subsection in that fiscal year, the department shall pay the balance from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (mv).
77.91(6)(a)(a) The signature of an official or an employee of the department may be stamped, printed or otherwise reproduced on an order under this subchapter after the official or employee adopts the stamped, printed or otherwise reproduced signature as his or her facsimile signature.
77.91(6)(b)
(b) The signature or the facsimile signature under
par. (a) of an official or an employee of the department meets the requirements under
s. 706.05 (2) (a).
