3. PROPERTY TAX/RENT CREDIT
Governor: Eliminate the property tax/rent credit (PTRC) beginning with the 1999 tax year. Compared to Act 9, this would increase general fund revenues by an estimated $399.1 million in 1999-00 and $241.7 million in 2000-01 for a total of $640.8 million over the biennium.
Under Act 9, the PTRC would have been equal to 16.4% of the first $2,000 in property taxes or rent constituting property taxes to a maximum credit of $328 in 1999. For tax year 2000, the PTRC would have been 10% of property taxes or rent to a maximum credit of $200. The PTRC would have been eliminated beginning with the 20001 tax year.
Assembly/Joint Finance: Restore the PTRC beginning in tax year 2001 at 10% of property taxes or rent to a maximum of $2,000, for a maximum credit of $200. Restoring the PTRC in tax year 2001 would have no impact on revenues during the 1999-01 biennium.
Senate/Legislature: Restore the PTRC in 1999 and 2000 at 8.4% to a maximum of $2,000 of property taxes or rent for a maximum credit of $168. This would reduce income tax revenues by an estimated $208.0 million in 1999-00 and $203.0 million in 2000-01. The 10% PTRC for 2001 and thereafter as adopted by the Assembly and Joint Finance would be retained.
Veto by Governor: Eliminate the PTRC for tax years 1999 and thereafter. Compared to the enrolled bill passed by the Legislature, this would increase income tax revenues by an estimated $208.0 million in 1999-00 and $203.0 million in 2000-01.
[Act 10 Sections: 1m, 2, 2m and 3]
[Act 10 Vetoed Section: 2m]
4. SCHOOL LEVY TAX CREDIT
GPR $700,000
Governor/Legislature: Delete the $60,000,400 increase in the December, 2000, school levy tax credit created by the Governor's partial vetoes of Act 9. Since the payment of this credit would have been made in 2001-02, the repeal does not affect appropriations in the 1999-01 biennium. However, the closing balance of the general fund for 2000-01 under Act 9 included funding that the Governor indicated was intended to be carried into 2001-02 to make this payment. Under this provision, that carry-forward would not be needed.
Increase the 2000-01 sum sufficient appropriations for the homestead tax credit and farmland preservation credit by $500,00 and $200,000, respectively, to reflect the deletion of the expanded school levy tax credit.
[Act 10 Section: 5]
5. ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING
GPR $2,357,500
Governor/Legislature: Provide $2,357,500 GPR to DOR in 1999-00 to administer the sales tax rebate. The following chart shows a breakdown of the components of the administrative costs.
Sales Tax Rebate Administrative Costs
Personnel
Permanent salaries (for overtime) $240,400
LTE salaries 139,200
Fringe benefits 65,500
Subtotal $445,100
Administration
Contract programming, InfoTech costs and other related expenses $241,900
Printing claim forms, envelopes, postage 702,400
Distributing rebate checks and related expenses 93,400
Furniture, rent and telephone expenses 67,200
Printing, storage, security and transportation of rebate checks 480,000
Processing rebate checks 327,500
Subtotal $1,912,400
TOTAL $2,357,500
[Act 10 Section: 7]
6. APPROPRIATION REDUCTIONS
Governor/Assembly/Joint Finance: No provision.
Senate/Legislature: Require the Secretary of the Department of Administration (DOA) to propose reductions in sum certain appropriations in any fund or reestimates of expenditures to be made from sum sufficient appropriations from the general fund for the 1999-01 biennium in an amount equal to $410 million. Direct the Secretary to make this proposal no later than January 1, 2001, and to report these reductions and reestimates to the Joint Committee on Finance for passive review. Specify that if the cochairpersons of Joint Finance do not notify the Secretary of DOA that the Committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposal within 14 working days, the Secretary would be required to lapse or transfer the amount of the proposed reductions to the general fund or reestimate the expenditures to be made from the sum sufficient appropriations. If the cochairpersons notify the Secretary of DOA within 14 working days that the Committee has scheduled a meeting, the Secretary would be required to lapse or transfer to the general fund or reestimate the amounts specified by Joint Finance.
Veto by Governor: Delete provision.
[Act 10 Vetoed Section: 6(2)]
ADMINISTRATION
Budget Change Items
General Agency Provisions
1. STANDARD BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
Funding Positions
GPR $507,500 0.00
FED 29,100 - 1.00
PR - 6,260,200 - 2.00
SEG 81,400 0.00
Total - $5,642,200 - 3.00
Governor/Legislature: Provide adjustments totaling $250,200 GPR, $12,700 FED, -$3,130,100 PR, and $40,700 SEG in 1999-00 and $257,300 GPR, $16,400 FED, -$3,130,100 PR, and $40,700 SEG in 2000-01 and -3.0 positions (-1.0 FED and -2.0 PR) for: (a) turnover reductions (-$150,900 GPR and -$745,600 PR annually); (b) removal of non-continuing elements from the base (-$35,700 FED and -$4,921,300 PR annually, and -1.0 FED and -2.0 PR positions); (c) full funding of salary and fringe benefit costs ($320,900 GPR, $39,000 FED, $1,818,900 PR, and $39,300 SEG in 1999-00 and $324,900 GPR, $39,000 FED, $1,818,900 PR, and $39,300 SEG in 2000-01); (d) full funding of financial services charges ($4,400 GPR, $30,800 PR, $1,000 SEG annually); (e) reclassifications ($8,000 GPR and $8,400 FED in 1999-00 and $11,100 GPR and $12,100 FED in 2000-01); (f) overtime ($15,500 GPR and $572,300 PR annually); (g) night and weekend differential ($1,400 GPR and $74,400 PR annually); (h) fifth vacation week as cash ($23,300 GPR, $1,000 FED, $40,400 PR and $400 SEG annually); (i) full funding of lease costs ($27,600 GPR annually); and (j) minor transfer within the same appropriation (no net fiscal impact).
2. REQUIRED BASE LEVEL STATE OPERATIONS FUNDING LAPSE
Funding Positions
GPR - $406,000 - 0.20
FED 9,000 0.00
PR 48,400 0.20
Total $348,600 0.00
Governor/Legislature: Reduce base level funding by $203,000 GPR annually and 0.2 GPR positions to make permanent a 2% annual lapse requirement imposed by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27. Annual reductions are made in the following programs: (a) DOA's general program operations appropriation (-$120,900); (b) special and executive committees appropriation (-$7,300); (c) Women’s Council (-$1,500); (d) Division of Hearings and Appeals (-$30,500); (e) Office of Justice Assistance (-$4,500); (e) Tax Appeals Commission (-$8,300); and (f) Division of Housing (-$30,000).
Also, provide increases of $4,500 FED and $24,200 PR annually and 0.2 PR positions to offset a portion of the required 2% GPR reduction. The increase of $4,500 FED annually would be used by OJA to fund existing staff. The increase of $24,200 PR annually and 0.2 PR positions would offset the reduction to DOA's general program operations GPR appropriation. Revenue for the PR increase comes from charges to other agencies for DOA services.
3. DEBT SERVICE REESTIMATES
GPR $156,800
PR - 4,078,900
Total $3,922,100
Governor/Legislature: Provide adjustments of $21,700 GPR and -$1,847,600 PR in 1999-00 and $135,100 GPR and -$2,231,300 PR in 2000-01 for debt service costs associated with state office building and other facility construction projects. The changes are for the following:
a. Funding increases ($21,700 GPR in 1999-00 and $135,100 GPR in 2000-01) associated with the principal and interest costs on bonding used for adapting for public use the Black Pointe Estate in Lake Geneva.
b. Funding decreases (-$208,300 PR in 1999-00 and -$204,900 PR in 2000-01) associated with the principal and interest costs for the financing of land acquisition for and construction of parking facilities in Madison. Total debt service for parking facilities would be $1,251,800 PR in 1999-00 and $1,255,200 PR in 2000-01. Funding for the parking facility debt service costs are provided from charges assessed for parking in state-owned parking spaces in Madison.
c. Funding decreases (-$1,639,300 PR in 1999-00 and -$2,026,400 PR in 2000-01) associated with the principal and interest costs for the financing of the acquisition, construction, development, enlargement, or improvement of facilities housing state agencies. Total debt service costs for construction and remodeling costs associated with state office buildings managed by DOA would be $9,509,600 PR in 1999-00 and $9,122,500 PR in 2000-01. Funding for these debt service costs are provided from charges assessed state agencies for renting space in state office buildings.
4. REPEAL OF SEPARATE STATE PROSECUTORS OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION
Governor/Legislature: Repeal the sum certain GPR appropriation for the State Prosecutor's Office and instead include funding for that Office within the GPR sum certain general program operations appropriation for DOA. The 1998-99 base level funding for the office was $203,500, which would be combined with DOA's general program operations that had 1998-99 base level funding of $8,582,400 GPR.
[Act 9 Sections: 508 and 509]
5. CRIMINAL PENALTIES STUDY COMMITTEE
Funding Positions
GPR - $400,000 - 1.00
Governor/Legislature: Delete $200,000 annually and 1.0 position to reflect termination of the activities of the Criminal Penalties Study Committee. This Committee was established by 1997 Wisconsin Act 283 to study the classification of criminal offenses and is required to submit its report not later than April 30, 1999. The Committee will complete its activities prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.
6. BADGER STATE GAMES [LFB Paper 135]
GPR $50,000
Governor/Legislature: Provide $25,000 annually to double the amount of annual funding provided for assistance to Badger State Games.
7. REPEAL THE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND MEDIATION OFFICE OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION
Governor/Legislature: Repeal the authorization for the energy development and demonstration program in DOA and the associated annual GPR appropriation. The program was established to promote the development and demonstration of renewable energy resources available in Wisconsin and energy conservation methods appropriate for the state. The last time monies were provided to this appropriation was in fiscal year 1983-84.
Repeal the annual GPR appropriation for mediation office operations. The appropriation was established to fund a mediation office to assist in the resolution of disputes having statewide significance if a Governor elected to establish such an office by executive order. Funds were last appropriated for this activity in the 1985-87 biennium. In addition to repealing the mediation office operations appropriation, a DOA gifts and grants appropriation is modified to eliminate the reference to the office of mediation.
[Act 9 Sections: 109, 510, 530 and 531]
8. HOUSING -- OPERATION FRESH START REPLICATION FUNDING [LFB Paper 136]
Governor: Provide $232,000 annually to the Division of Housing's grants to local housing organizations appropriation to fund replication of projects similar to Madison's Operation Fresh Start program. This program assists youth and adults (ages 16 to 24) with alcohol and other drug abuse problems, poor health and nutrition, low educational achievement, poor employment history, physical, sexual and emotional abuse or a criminal history to become self-sufficient. During the 1998-99 fiscal year, base level funding in the Division of Housing and WHEDA totaling $530,000 was reallocated at the direction of the Governor to fund two Operation Fresh Start replication projects. The additional funding provided under the Governor's recommendation would support two more replication projects during the 1999-01 fiscal biennium.
Joint Finance: Delete the $232,000 provided in each fiscal year for Operation Fresh Start replication projects from DOA and instead place the funds in the Joint Committee on Finance's GPR supplemental appropriation to be reserved for possible future release to the Division of Housing under s. 13.10 procedures, once the total actual funding commitments for these replication projects are known and have been secured.
Assembly: Modify Joint Finance provision by deleting $92,000 annually of the amounts reserved in the Committee's appropriation for Operation Fresh Start replication projects and transferring the remaining balance ($140,000 annually) from the Committee's appropriation to DOA's grants to local housing organizations appropriation. Under this modification, funding sufficient for four Operation Fresh Start replication projects annually would be provided, based on the current level of firm funding commitments to the program from other sources.
Senate/Legislature: Restore Joint Finance provision.
9. HOUSING -- ELIMINATE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING GRANTS [LFB Paper 137]
Governor: Eliminate the current $50,000 individual grant maximum on awards under the transitional housing grant program. This program provides grants to counties, municipalities, community action agencies and private, nonprofit organizations to operate transitional housing and related supportive services for the homeless. The purpose of the program is to facilitate the movement of homeless persons to independent living. During the 1997-99 biennium, grants totaling $900,000 were awarded under the program to 20 different agencies assisting the homeless.
