Senate Bill 97
Relating to: issuance of bonus deer hunting permits to certain farm owners who are engaged in the production of maple syrup.
Concurrence:
Ayes: 12 - Representatives Johnsrud, Gunderson, Kedzie, Krawczyk, D. Meyer, Ott, Pettis, Gronemus, J. Lehman, Steinbrink, Miller and Reynolds.
Noes: 0.
To committee on Rules.
DuWayne Johnsrud
Chairperson
Committee on Natural Resources
The committee on Veterans and Military Affairs reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 468
Relating to: adding one representative of the Wisconsin chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America to the council on veterans programs.
Passage:
Ayes: 10 - Representatives Musser, Hundertmark, Krawczyk, Petrowski, Sykora, Townsend, Ryba, Boyle, Hubler and Schneider.
Noes: 0.
To committee on Rules.
Assembly Bill 497
Relating to: designating and observing POW-MIA Recognition Day.
Passage:
Ayes: 10 - Representatives Musser, Hundertmark, Krawczyk, Petrowski, Sykora, Townsend, Ryba, Boyle, Hubler and Schneider.
Noes: 0.
To committee on Rules.
Terry Musser
Chairperson
Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs
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Communications
State of Wisconsin
Joint Legislative Council
Madison
September 27, 2001
Mr. John Scocos
Assembly Chief Clerk
1 East Main Street, Suite 402
Madison, WI 53703
Dear John:
I am pleased to transmit to you the following report to the 2001 Legislature on legislation introduced by the Joint Legislative Council:
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RL 2001-08 Legislation Recommended by the Special Committee on Labor Shortage
(2001 Senate Bill 249 and Assembly Bill 516)
(2001 Senate Joint Resolution 41 and Assembly Joint Resolution 57)
I would appreciate your including this letter in the Journal for the information of the membership. Additional copies of this report are available in the Legislative Council Staff offices, One East Main, Suite 401, or from our web page at
www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/reports_by_topic.htm.
Sincerely,
Terry C. Anderson
Director
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State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
Madison
DATE: October 1, 2001
TO: John A. Scocos
Assembly Chief Clerk
Donald J. Schneider
Senate Chief Clerk
FROM: Gary L. Poulson
Assistant Revisor of Statutes
SUBJECT: Rules published in the September 30, 2001,
Wisconsin Administrative
Register, No. 549.
The following rules have been published:
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Revenue
Madison
September 17, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The use-value assessment law, enacted in
1995 Act 27, specified duties of the Farmland Advisory Council and required the Council to report to the Legislature on the usefulness of use-value assessment as a way to preserve farmland and to reduce the conversion of farmland to other uses. At that time, Wisconsin became the 49th State to institute some form of use-value assessment of agricultural land.
Section
73.03(49)(a), Wis. Stats., requires the Farmland Advisory Council (the Council) to advise the Department of Revenue on the supplement to the Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual (WPAM) guidelines for assessing agricultural land, and on rules to implement use-value assessment of agricultural land and to reduce urban sprawl. The Council has met annually to review and adopt use-value guidelines and these are published in the WPAM for use by assessors and land owners. The guidelines for the 2001 assessment year are attached for your reference. The Council has also worked with the Department to develop information for inclusion in the WPAM regarding classification of land as agricultural land. Most recently, the Council and Department have been working on use-value guidelines for pasture and for specialty crops. The chapter of the WPAM on assessment of agricultural land is also attached for reference.
The Council has worked closely with the agricultural community and the Department in developing administrative rules to govern use-value assessments. These rules are now in place and, based on numbers of inquiries received by the Department of Revenue, appear to be working well.
Section 73.03(49)(b), repealed in 1999, required the Council to recommend an appropriate penalty for converting agricultural land to another use to discourage urban sprawl. The Council worked with the Legislature, agricultural organizations and other interested parties to devise a more effective penalty than the penalty in the original law. The penalty provisions were amended in
1999 Act 9. However, concerns about the penalty continue to be expressed and, therefore, the Council has asked the Department of Revenue to monitor the issue.
Section
73.03(49)(c) directs the Council to report on the usefulness of use-value as a way to preserve farmland. In principle, use-value assessment keeps farmland in production by reducing property taxes which equates to a reduction of a significant cost of agricultural production.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service, farmland was converted to other uses at an average rate of 36,450 acres per year from 1992 to 1995. Since use-value has been in place, the loss of farmland has slowed to an average of 29,930 acres per year. This 18 percent decrease is especially noteworthy in light of the strong economy Wisconsin experienced during the late 1990's - the first years under use-value assessment.
Additional evidence is provided in a March 2000 study by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, led by Douglas Jackson-Smith, for the "Wisconsin Farm Research Summary". A significant finding of Mr. Jackson-Smith's poll of farmers regarding use-value assessment of agricultural land is that use-value assessment is the only policy change that has had a positive impact on the majority of farmers.
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The Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Division of State and Local Finance, will conduct an independent analysis in 2002 to develop additional information regarding the effects of use-value assessment on urban sprawl and other impacts of the program.
Section
73.03(49)(d) requires the Council to recommend adjustments to the shared revenue formula and other formulae to accommodate adverse effects use-value may have on local governments. Until use-value assessment was fully implemented for calendar year 2000 assessments, there were no significant impacts on the various formulae. With use-value assessment now fully implemented, the Council will begin to accumulate data and with the assistance of the Department of Revenue, Division of State and Local Finance, issue a report with recommendations in 2002. Since the value of agricultural land comprises a very small percentage of total property value - agricultural land accounted for only 1.8 per cent of the total statewide equalized value in 2000 - the impact of use value assessment is expected to be minimal in most areas of the state.
In summary, use-value assessment is working as intended. It is providing farmers with tax relief which is sorely needed due to the current state of the agricultural economy.
Sincerely,
Richard G. Chandler
Chair, Farmland Advisory Council
Secretary of Revenue
Referred to committee on Agriculture.
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University of Wisconsin
Hospital and Clinics
Madison
September 28, 2001
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
I am pleased to submit to the Wisconsin Legislature the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority Annual Report, as required by Chapter
233 Wisconsin Statutes. Our 2000-2001 fiscal year highlights include achieving our financial goals, increased collaboration among the UW Health partners, and development of a five-year Strategic Plan.
Though challenged by staffing shortages, rising costs and reduced reimbursements, UWHC Administration has developed a sound strategy to address today's needs while preparing us for the future. We are confident that we will continue to serve our mission of patient care, education, research and community service, as well as retain our reputation as one of the best hospitals in the country.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Legislature for the confidence they have shown in our institution by authorizing the continuation of our affiliation agreement with the University of Wisconsin for the next five years. If you have any questions about our Annual Report or would like additional information please contact me at 263-8025.
Sincerely,
Donna K. Sollenberger
President and Chief Executive Officer
Referred to committee on Health.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Veterans Affairs
Madison
