AB892: Bill Text Engrossed

AB892-engrossed, s. 37 Section 37. 77.71 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,24,7 77.71 Imposition of county and special district sales and use taxes. Whenever a county sales and use tax ordinance is adopted under s. 77.70 or a special district resolution is adopted under s. 77.705 or 77.706, the following taxes are imposed:

AB892-engrossed,24,15 (1) For the privilege of selling, leasing or renting tangible personal property and for the privilege of selling, performing or furnishing services a sales tax is imposed upon retailers at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under s. 77.705 or 77.706 in the case of a special district tax of the gross receipts from the sale, lease or rental of tangible personal property, except property taxed under sub. (4), sold, leased or rented at retail in the county or special district or from selling, performing or furnishing services described under s. 77.52 (2) in the county or special district.

AB892-engrossed,25,2 (2) An excise tax is imposed at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under s. 77.705 or 77.706 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price upon every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in the county or special district tangible personal property or services if the property or service is subject to the state use tax under s. 77.53, except that a receipt indicating that the tax under sub. (1), (3) or (4) has been paid relieves the buyer of liability for the tax under this subsection and except that if the buyer has paid a similar local tax in another state on a purchase of the same property or services that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection and except that for motor vehicles that are used for a purpose in addition to retention, demonstration or display while held for sale in the regular course of business by a dealer the tax under this subsection is imposed not on the sales price but on the amount under s. 77.53 (1m).

AB892-engrossed,25,12 (3) An excise tax is imposed upon a contractor engaged in construction activities within the county or special district, at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under s. 77.705 or 77.706 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price of tangible personal property that is used in constructing, altering, repairing or improving real property and that becomes a component part of real property in that county or special district, unless except that if the contractor has paid the sales tax of a county in the case of a county tax or of a special district in the case of a special district tax in this state on that property, and except that if the buyer or has paid a similar local sales tax in another state on a purchase of the same property, that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection.

AB892-engrossed,25,22 (4) An excise tax is imposed at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under s. 77.705 or 77.706 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price upon every person storing, using or otherwise consuming a motor vehicle, boat, snowmobile, mobile home not exceeding 45 feet in length, trailer, semitrailer, all-terrain vehicle or aircraft, if that property must be registered or titled with this state and if that property is to be customarily kept in a county that has in effect an ordinance under s. 77.70 or in a special district that has in effect a resolution under s. 77.705 or 77.706, except that if the buyer has paid a similar local sales tax in another state on a purchase of the same property that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection.

AB892-engrossed, s. 38 Section 38. 77.76 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,26,25 77.76 (3m) From the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (gb) the department, for the first 2 years of collection, shall distribute 97% of the special district taxes reported for each special local professional baseball park district that has imposed taxes under this subchapter, minus the special district portion of the retailers' discounts, to the special local professional baseball park district no later than the end of the 3rd month following the end of the calendar quarter in which such amounts were reported. From the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (gb) the department, after the first 2 years of collection, shall distribute 98.5% of the special district taxes reported for each special local professional baseball park district that has imposed taxes under this subchapter, minus the special district portion of the retailers' discount, to the special local professional baseball park district no later than the end of the 3rd month following the end of the calendar quarter in which such amounts were reported. At the time of distribution the department shall indicate the taxes reported by each taxpayer. In this subsection, the "special district portion of the retailers' discount" is the amount determined by multiplying the total retailers' discount by a fraction the numerator of which is the gross special local professional baseball park district sales and use taxes payable and the denominator of which is the sum of the gross state and special local professional baseball park district sales and use taxes payable. The special local professional baseball park district taxes distributed shall be increased or decreased to reflect subsequent refunds, audit adjustments and all other adjustments of the special local professional baseball park district taxes previously distributed. Interest paid on refunds of special local professional baseball park district sales and use taxes shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (gb) at the rate paid by this state under s. 77.60 (1) (a). Any special local professional baseball park district receiving a report under this subsection is subject to the duties of confidentiality to which the department of revenue is subject under s. 77.61 (5).

AB892-engrossed, s. 39 Section 39. 77.76 (3p) of the statutes is created to read:

AB892-engrossed,27,21 77.76 (3p) From the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (ge) the department of revenue shall distribute 98.5% of the taxes reported for each local professional football stadium district that has imposed taxes under this subchapter, minus the district portion of the retailers' discount, to the local professional football stadium district no later than the end of the 3rd month following the end of the calendar quarter in which such amounts were reported. At the time of distribution the department of revenue shall indicate the taxes reported by each taxpayer. In this subsection, the "district portion of the retailers' discount" is the amount determined by multiplying the total retailers' discount by a fraction the numerator of which is the gross local professional football stadium district sales and use taxes payable and the denominator of which is the sum of the gross state and local professional football stadium district sales and use taxes payable. The local professional football stadium district taxes distributed shall be increased or decreased to reflect subsequent refunds, audit adjustments and all other adjustments of the local professional football stadium district taxes previously distributed. Interest paid on refunds of local professional football stadium district sales and use taxes shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (ge) at the rate paid by this state under s. 77.60 (1) (a). Any local professional football stadium district receiving a report under this subsection is subject to the duties of confidentiality to which the department of revenue is subject under s. 77.61 (5).

AB892-engrossed, s. 40 Section 40. 77.76 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,28,3 77.76 (4) There shall be retained by the state 1.5% of the taxes collected for taxes imposed by special districts under s. ss. 77.705 and 77.706 and 1.75% of the taxes collected for taxes imposed by counties under s. 77.70 to cover costs incurred by the state in administering, enforcing and collecting the tax. All interest and penalties collected shall be deposited and retained by this state in the general fund.

AB892-engrossed, s. 41 Section 41. 85.62 of the statutes is created to read:

AB892-engrossed,28,10 85.62 Aid to local professional football stadium districts. Subject to s. 229.8245, the department may make aid payments from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (gv) to a local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229 for the development, construction, reconstruction or improvement of bridges, highways, parking lots or other functionally related structures associated with a football stadium, as defined in s. 229.821 (6).

AB892-engrossed, s. 42 Section 42. 103.49 (3) (ar) of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 409), is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,28,18 103.49 (3) (ar) In determining prevailing wage rates under par. (a) or (am), the department may not use data from projects that are subject to this section, s. 66.293 or, 103.50 or 229.8275 or 40 USC 276a unless the department determines that there is insufficient wage data in the area to determine those prevailing wage rates, in which case the department may use data from projects that are subject to this section, s. 66.293 or, 103.50 or 229.8275 or 40 USC 276a.

AB892-engrossed, s. 43 Section 43. 109.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,29,15 109.09 (1) The department shall investigate and attempt equitably to adjust controversies between employers and employes as to alleged wage claims. The department may receive and investigate any wage claim which is filed with the department, or received by the department under s. 109.10 (4), no later than 2 years after the date the wages are due. The department may, after receiving a wage claim, investigate any wages due from the employer against whom the claim is filed to any employe during the period commencing 2 years before the date the claim is filed. The department shall enforce this chapter and ss. 66.293, 103.02, 103.49, 103.82 and, 104.12 and 229.8275. In pursuance of this duty, the department may sue the employer on behalf of the employe to collect any wage claim or wage deficiency and ss. 109.03 (6) and 109.11 (2) and (3) shall apply to such actions. Except for actions under s. 109.10, the department may refer such an action to the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurs for prosecution and collection and the district attorney shall commence an action in the circuit court having appropriate jurisdiction. Any number of wage claims or wage deficiencies against the same employer may be joined in a single proceeding, but the court may order separate trials or hearings. In actions that are referred to a district attorney under this subsection, any taxable costs recovered by the district attorney shall be paid into the general fund of the county in which the violation occurs and used by that county to meet its financial responsibility under s. 978.13 (2) for the operation of the office of the district attorney who prosecuted the action.

AB892-engrossed, s. 44 Section 44. 111.322 (2m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,29,19 111.322 (2m) (c) The individual files a complaint or attempts to enforce a right under s. 66.293 or, 103.49 or 229.8275 or testifies or assists in any action or proceeding under s. 66.293 or, 103.49 or 229.8275.

AB892-engrossed, s. 45 Section 45. 219.09 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB892-engrossed,29,22 219.09 (1) (d) A local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229.

AB892-engrossed, s. 46 Section 46. 227.01 (13) (t) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB892-engrossed,30,3 227.01 (13) (t) Ascertains and determines prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor under ss. 66.293, 103.49 and, 103.50 and 229.8275, except that any action or inaction which ascertains and determines prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor under ss. 66.293, 103.49 and , 103.50 and 229.8275 is subject to judicial review under s. 227.40.

AB892-engrossed, s. 47 Section 47. Subchapter IV of chapter 229 [precedes 229.820] of the statutes is created to read:

AB892-engrossed,30,6 chapter 229

AB892-engrossed,30,9 Subchapter IV Local Professional Football stadium districts

AB892-engrossed,30,19 229.820 Legislative declaration. (1) The legislature determines that the provision of assistance by state agencies to a district under this subchapter, any appropriation of funds to a district under this subchapter and the moral obligation pledge under s. 229.830 (7) serve a statewide public purpose by assisting the development of professional football stadium facilities in the state for providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the state for the benefit and welfare of people throughout the state. The legislature determines that the taxes that may be imposed by a district under subch. V of ch. 77 are special taxes that are generated apart from any direct annual tax on taxable property.

AB892-engrossed,30,23 (2) The legislature determines that a district serves a public purpose in the district's jurisdiction by providing recreation, by encouraging economic development and tourism, by reducing unemployment and by bringing needed capital into the district's jurisdiction for the benefit of people in the district's jurisdiction.

AB892-engrossed,30,24 229.821 Definitions. In this subchapter:

AB892-engrossed,31,2 (1) "Bond" means any bond, note or other obligation issued under s. 66.066 by a district.

AB892-engrossed,31,6 (2) "Bond resolution" means a resolution of the district board authorizing the issuance of, or providing terms and conditions related to, bonds and includes, where appropriate, any trust agreement, trust indenture, indenture of mortgage or deed of trust providing terms and conditions for bonds.

AB892-engrossed,31,11 (3) "Chief elected official" means the mayor of a city or, if the city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, the village president of a village, the town board chair of a town or the county executive of a county or, if the county does not have a county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors.

AB892-engrossed,31,12 (4) "District" means a special purpose district created under this subchapter.

AB892-engrossed,31,13 (5) "District board" means the governing board of a district.

AB892-engrossed,31,18 (6) "Football stadium" means a stadium that is principally used as the home stadium of a professional football team described in s. 229.823 at the time that a district is created, or if no home stadium exists at the time that a district is created, "football stadium" means a stadium that includes the site of a proposed home stadium of such a team.

AB892-engrossed,31,23 (7) "Football stadium facilities" means football stadium property, tangible or intangible, including spectator seating of all types, practice facilities, parking lots and structures, garages, restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment facilities, facilities for the display or sale of memorabilia, transportation facilities, and other functionally related or auxiliary facilities or structures.

AB892-engrossed,31,24 (8) "Home stadium" means a stadium approved as provided in s. 229.823.

AB892-engrossed,32,4 (9) "Members-elect" means those members of the governing body of a municipality or county, at a particular time, who have been duly elected or appointed for a current regular or unexpired term and whose service has not terminated by death, resignation or removal from office.

AB892-engrossed,32,5 (10) "Municipality" means a city, village or town.

AB892-engrossed,32,6 (11) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town or county.

AB892-engrossed,32,8 (12) "Related party" means a corporation or business entity that is owned, controlled or operated by, or under common control with, a professional football team.

AB892-engrossed,32,14 229.822 Creation and organization. (1) There is created, for each jurisdiction under s. 229.823, a special district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state and the political subdivisions within its jurisdiction, that has the powers under s. 229.824 and the name of which includes "Professional Football Stadium District".

AB892-engrossed,32,17 (2) A district is governed by its district board. Subject to sub. (3), the district board shall consist of the following members who shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the creation of a district:

AB892-engrossed,32,21 (a) Two persons appointed by the governor. Both of the persons appointed by the governor shall reside within the county in which the football stadium is located. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by the senate.

AB892-engrossed,33,2 (b) Two persons appointed by the chief elected official of the most populous city located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the common council or council.

AB892-engrossed,33,6 (c) Two persons appointed by the chief elected official of the county in which the football stadium is located. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the county board.

AB892-engrossed,33,14 (d) One person appointed by the chief elected official of any municipality located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district, other than the most populous city located wholly or partly within the jurisdiction of the district, that has a boundary at the time of creation of the district that is contiguous to a boundary of the site of the football stadium. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the governing body of the municipality.

AB892-engrossed,34,2 (3) Upon appointment under sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. The terms of office of the persons appointed under sub. (2) shall be 2 years expiring on July 1, except that the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 4th year beginning after the year of creation of a district. Persons appointed under sub. (2) (a) may be removed from the district board before the expiration of their terms by the appointing authority but only for cause, as defined in s. 17.16 (2). Persons appointed under sub. (2) (b) to (d) serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities, and may be removed before the expiration of their terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under sub. (2) shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term to which he or she is appointed. The appointing authorities shall confer with one another regarding their appointments with a view toward achieving diversity on the district board.

AB892-engrossed,34,5 (4) (a) The district board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. The secretary shall act as clerk of the district.

AB892-engrossed,34,9 (b) A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. The district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those members of the district board who are present at a meeting of the district board.

AB892-engrossed,34,11 (5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

AB892-engrossed,34,14 (6) Upon the appointment and qualification of a majority of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter.

AB892-engrossed,34,16 (7) The district board shall name the district, and the name shall include "Professional Football Stadium District".

AB892-engrossed,35,2 229.823 Jurisdiction. A district's jurisdiction is any county with a population at the date of the district's creation of more than 150,000 that includes the principal site of a stadium that is home to a professional football team, that is a member of a league of professional football teams that have home stadiums in at least 10 states and a collective average attendance for all league members of at least 40,000 persons per game over the 5 years immediately preceding the year in which a district is created, and that is approved by that league for use as a home stadium for that professional football team. Once created, the district's jurisdiction remains fixed even if population or attendance figures subsequently decline below the minimums described in this section.

AB892-engrossed,35,5 229.824 Powers of a district. A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following:

AB892-engrossed,35,6 (1) Adopt bylaws to govern the district's activities, subject to this subchapter.

AB892-engrossed,35,7 (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.

AB892-engrossed,35,8 (3) Maintain an office.

AB892-engrossed,35,9 (4) In connection with football stadium facilities:

AB892-engrossed,35,12 (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the football stadium facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise, or engage other persons to do these things.

AB892-engrossed,35,14 (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; transfer; or accept transfers of property.

AB892-engrossed,35,18 (c) Improve, maintain and repair property, and fund reserves for maintenance, depreciation and capital improvements. Reserves for depreciation and capital improvements may not be created in the special fund maintained under s. 229.825 (1).

AB892-engrossed,35,23 (d) Enter into contracts, subject to such standards as may be established by the district board. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates and may consider any factors in awarding a contract, including price, time for completion of work and qualifications and past performance of a contractor.

AB892-engrossed,35,24 (e) Grant concessions.

AB892-engrossed,35,25 (f) Sell or otherwise dispose of unneeded or unwanted property.

AB892-engrossed,36,4 (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.30 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employe benefits, including an employe pension plan.

AB892-engrossed,36,7 (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.30, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance.

AB892-engrossed,36,8 (7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district's property or funds.

AB892-engrossed,36,13 (8) Subject to s. 229.8245, issue revenue bonds under s. 66.066, subject to ss. 229.829 to 229.834, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements.

AB892-engrossed,36,15 (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate.

AB892-engrossed,36,17 (10) Promote, advertise and publicize its football stadium facilities and related activities.

AB892-engrossed,36,20 (11) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its football stadium facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.

AB892-engrossed,36,22 (12) Establish and collect fees or other charges for the use of its football stadium facilities or for services rendered by the district.

AB892-engrossed,37,2 (13) Establish and collect fees or other charges for the right to purchase admission to events at the football stadium if the proceeds from any amount that is collected under this subsection are used for purposes related to football stadium facilities.

AB892-engrossed,37,4 (14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district's purposes.

AB892-engrossed,38,10 (15) Impose, by the adoption of a resolution, the taxes under subch. V of ch. 77, except that the taxes imposed by the resolution may not take effect until the resolution is approved by a majority of the electors in the district's jurisdiction voting on the resolution at a referendum, to be held at the first spring primary or September primary following by at least 45 days the date of adoption of the resolution. One or two questions shall appear on the ballot. The first question shall be substantially as follows: "Shall a sales tax and a use tax be imposed at the rate of 0.5% in .... County for purposes related to football stadium facilities in the .... Professional Football Stadium District?" The county board may also submit a 2nd question which shall ask whether available revenues from the 0.5% sales tax and use tax will be permitted to be used for property and sales tax relief purposes in that county. The text of the 2nd question shall be specified by the county board. Approval of the first question constitutes approval of the resolution of the district board. Approval of the 2nd question is not effective unless the first question is approved. The clerk of the district shall publish the notices required under s. 10.06 (4) (c), (f) and (i) for any referendum held under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 10.06 (4) (c), the type A notice under s. 10.01 (2) (a) relating to the referendum is valid even if given and published late as long as it is given and published prior to the election as early as practicable. A district may not levy any taxes that are not expressly authorized under subch. V of ch. 77. The district may not levy any taxes until the professional football team, the county board and the governing body of the municipality in which the football stadium facilities are located agree on how to fund the maintenance of the football stadium facilities. The district may not levy any taxes until the professional football team, the county board and the governing body of the municipality in which the football stadium facilities are located agree on how to distribute the proceeds from the sale of naming rights related to the football stadium facilities. If a district board adopts a resolution that imposes taxes and the resolution is approved by the electors, the district shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the secretary of revenue at least 30 days before its effective date. If a district board adopts a resolution that imposes taxes and the resolution is not approved by the electors, the district is dissolved.

AB892-engrossed,38,11 (16) Accept gifts, loans and other aid.

AB892-engrossed,38,13 (17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district.

AB892-engrossed,38,14 (18) Adopt and alter an official seal.

AB892-engrossed,38,20 (19) Subject to the limitation in this subsection, sell engraved tiles or bricks, which may be placed in or around football stadium facilities. The net proceeds from the sale of engraved tiles or bricks shall be used by the district to retire bonds issued for purposes related to football stadium facilities. No tiles or bricks may be sold under this subsection if the net proceeds from such sales would exceed the amount that would jeopardize the federal tax-exempt status of the bonds.

AB892-engrossed,38,23 229.8245 Limitations on district, state actions. (1) The name of a football stadium may not be changed without the written consent of the municipality in which it is located and the professional football team described in s. 229.823.

AB892-engrossed,39,3 (2) The district may not issue bonds under s. 229.824 (8), and the department of transportation may not make any payments under s. 85.62, unless all of the following apply:

AB892-engrossed,39,6 (a) The district has entered into a lease with a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, under which the team agrees to be the principal tenant of the football stadium for a term of not less than 30 years.

AB892-engrossed,39,12 (c) A professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, certifies to the district that it has applied to the league of professional football teams to which it belongs for approval of a policy that allows a person who paid a onetime license or similar right, as described in s. 77.54 (45), to receive a payment in an amount that is equal to the amount of the license or right from any person who subsequently receives that license or right.

AB892-engrossed,39,18 (d) The district and a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, enter into an agreement under which the team agrees that if the team is sold or if its assets are liquidated or the team is transferred to a new owner before the certification is made under s. 229.825 (3) (a), the terms of the sale or transfer of the team shall include a provision that provides for the immediate retirement of all outstanding bonds, including bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds.

AB892-engrossed,40,2 229.825 Special fund tax revenues. (1) The district board shall maintain a special fund into which it deposits all of the revenue received from the department of revenue, that is derived from the taxes imposed under subch. V of ch. 77 and from football donations, as defined in s. 71.10 (5e) (a) 2., and may use this revenue only for the purposes specified in sub. (2). The district may not deposit any other moneys into the special fund, except that the district shall credit all earnings on the revenues in the special fund to the special fund. The earnings on the revenues shall be used only for the purposes specified in sub. (2).

AB892-engrossed,40,8 (2) The district shall first use the revenues in the special fund maintained under sub. (1) for the payment of current debt service on bonds issued by the district for purposes related to football stadium facilities. If the revenues in the special fund in any year exceed the amount required to pay current debt service on bonds issued by the district for purposes related to football stadium facilities, the district shall apply the excess revenues for the following purposes in the following order:

AB892-engrossed,40,13 (a) If the 2nd question under s. 229.824 (15) is submitted and approved by the electors, in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years after the year in which the 2nd question is approved, the district shall pay the county that is in the district's jurisdiction an amount equal to the remaining revenues in the fund for the purpose of directly reducing the county's property tax levy.