Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a county may impose a sales and use tax at the rate of 0.5
percent of the sales price of tangible personal property, goods, and services sold or
used in the county. The tax may be imposed only for the purpose of reducing the
property tax levy.
Under this bill, with the approval of the electors in the county at a referendum,
Milwaukee County may impose an additional sales and use tax at the rate of 1
percent of the sales price of tangible personal property, goods, and services sold or
used in the county. The bill requires that the revenue from the additional tax be used
as follows:
1. Twelve and one-half percent of the revenue must be used to provide a credit
against the county property tax liability of each property owner in Milwaukee

County. The credit is calculated by multiplying the county tax rate by the lesser of
the property's estimated fair market value or a credit base amount determined by the
Department of Revenue. DOR determines the credit base amount by calculating, to
the nearest $100, the estimated fair market value necessary to distribute 12.5
percent of the tax revenue as property tax credits.
2. Twelve and one-half percent of the revenue must be used to provide a credit
against the municipal property tax liability of each property owner in a municipality
in Milwaukee County. The credit is calculated by multiplying the municipal tax rate
by the lesser of the property's estimated fair market value or the credit base amount,
determined by DOR in the same manner as above.
3. Seven percent of the revenue must be used for public health infrastructure
projects.
4. Thirty-four percent of the revenue must be used by Milwaukee County to
pay its operational and capital expenses.
5. Thirty-four percent of the revenue must be distributed to each municipality
in Milwaukee County and used to pay their operational and capital expenses. The
distribution to each municipality is based on the ratio of its population to the county's
population.
Under the bill, the expenditure by a municipality of the distributed tax revenue
will not affect the municipality's payment under the expenditure restraint program.
The bill also provides that the revenue and expenditures will not impact any local
government funding formula.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB521-ASA1,1 1Section 1. 20.835 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,2,32 20.835 (3) (g) Additional property tax relief credits. All moneys received from
3the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (g), to make the payments under s. 79.10 (5f).
AB521-ASA1,2 4Section 2. 20.835 (4) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,3,25 20.835 (4) (g) County taxes. All moneys received from the taxes imposed under
6s. 77.70 for distribution to the counties that enact an ordinance imposing taxes under
7that section and for interest payments on refunds under s. 77.76 (3), except that 1.75
8percent of those the tax revenues collected under that section s. 77.70 (1) shall be
9credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (g) and 25 percent of the tax

1revenues collected under s. 77.70 (2) shall be credited to the appropriation account
2under s. 20.835 (3) (g)
.
AB521-ASA1,3 3Section 3 . 74.09 (3) (b) 6p. of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,3,64 74.09 (3) (b) 6p. The amount of credits under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 1. and 2. allocable
5to the property for the previous year and the current year, and the percentage change
6between those years.
AB521-ASA1,4 7Section 4 . 74.09 (3) (b) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,3,108 74.09 (3) (b) 7. The amount obtained by subtracting the amounts under subds.
96. and, 6m., and 6p. from the amount under subd. 5., for the previous year and the
10current year, and the percentage change in that amount between those years.
AB521-ASA1,5 11Section 5 . 77.70 of the statutes is renumbered 77.70 (1) and amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,4,312 77.70 (1) Any county desiring to may impose county sales and use taxes under
13this subchapter may do so by the adoption of an ordinance, stating its purpose and
14referring to this subchapter. The rate of the tax imposed under this section
15subsection is 0.5 percent of the sales price or purchase price. Except as provided in
16sub. (2) (b) and s. 66.0621 (3m), the county sales and use taxes may be imposed only
17for the purpose of directly reducing the property tax levy and only in their entirety
18as provided in this subchapter. That ordinance shall be effective on the first day of
19January, the first day of April, the first day of July or the first day of October
January
201, April 1, July 1, or October 1
. A certified copy of that ordinance shall be delivered
21to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days prior to its effective date. The repeal
22of any such ordinance shall be effective on December 31. A certified copy of a repeal
23ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before the
24effective date of the repeal. Except as provided under s. 77.60 (9), the department
25of revenue may not issue any assessment nor or act on any claim for a refund or any

1claim for an adjustment under s. 77.585 after the end of the calendar year that is 4
2years after the year in which the county has enacted a repeal ordinance under this
3section subsection.
AB521-ASA1,6 4Section 6 . 77.70 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,4,185 77.70 (2) (a) In addition to the taxes imposed under sub. (1), Milwaukee County
6may adopt an ordinance to impose sales and use taxes under this subchapter at the
7rate of 1 percent of the sales price or purchase price. The ordinance may not become
8effective until approved by the electors of the county at a referendum at the spring
9election or general election. An ordinance adopted under this paragraph shall be
10effective on January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1, and a certified copy of the
11ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days prior to its
12effective date. The repeal of an ordinance shall be effective on December 31, and a
13certified copy of a repeal ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at
14least 120 days prior to its effective date. Except as provided under s. 77.60 (9), the
15department of revenue may not issue an assessment or act on a claim for a refund
16or for an adjustment under s. 77.585 after the end of the calendar year that is 4 years
17after the year in which the county has enacted a repeal ordinance under this
18paragraph.
AB521-ASA1,4,2019 (b) The revenue from the taxes imposed by Milwaukee County under par. (a)
20shall be used as follows:
AB521-ASA1,4,2221 1. Twelve and one-half percent of the revenue shall be used to provide a credit
22against the county property tax liability of each property owner in the county.
AB521-ASA1,4,2523 2. Twelve and one-half percent of the revenue shall be used to provide a credit
24against the municipal property tax liability of each property owner in a city, village,
25or town in the county.
AB521-ASA1,5,2
13. Seven percent of the revenue shall be used for public health infrastructure
2projects.
AB521-ASA1,5,103 4. From the revenue remaining after the application of subds. 1. to 3., the
4county shall use 50 percent to pay the county's operational and capital expenses and
5shall distribute 50 percent to the cities, villages, and towns in the county, and the
6cities, villages, and towns shall use the revenue to pay their operational and capital
7expenses. The county shall distribute to each city, village, and town an amount that
8bears the same ratio to the total amount distributed under this subdivision as the
9ratio of the population of the city, village, or town to the county's population, using
10the population estimates under s. 16.96.
AB521-ASA1,7 11Section 7 . 77.76 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,6,1012 77.76 (3) From the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (g) the department of
13revenue shall distribute 98.25 percent of the county taxes imposed under s. 77.70 (1)
14and 75 percent of the county taxes imposed under s. 77.70 (2)
reported for each
15enacting county, minus the county portion of the retailers' discounts, to the county
16and shall indicate the taxes reported by each taxpayer, no later than 75 days
17following the last day of the calendar quarter in which such amounts were reported.
18In this subsection, the “county portion of the retailers' discount" is the amount
19determined by multiplying the total retailers' discount by a fraction the numerator
20of which is the gross county sales and use taxes payable and the denominator of
21which is the sum of the gross state and county sales and use taxes payable. The
22county taxes distributed shall be increased or decreased to reflect subsequent
23refunds, audit adjustments, and all other adjustments of the county taxes previously
24distributed. Interest paid on refunds of county sales and use taxes shall be paid from
25the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (g) at the rate paid by this state under s. 77.60

1(1) (a). The Except as provided in s. 77.70 (2) (b), a county may retain the amount
2it receives or it may distribute all or a portion of the amount it receives to the towns,
3villages, cities, and school districts in the county. After receiving notice from the
4department of revenue, a county shall reimburse the department for the amount by
5which any refunds, including interest, of the county's sales and use taxes that the
6department pays or allows in a reporting period exceeds the amount of the county's
7sales and use taxes otherwise payable to the county under this subsection for the
8same or subsequent reporting period. Any county receiving a report under this
9subsection is subject to the duties of confidentiality to which the department of
10revenue is subject under s. 77.61 (5) and (6).
AB521-ASA1,8 11Section 8 . 79.05 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 19,
12is amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,7,713 79.05 (2) (c) Its municipal budget; exclusive of principal and interest on
14long-term debt and exclusive of revenue sharing payments under s. 66.0305,
15payments of premiums under s. 66.0137 (5) (c) 1. and 1m., recycling fee payments
16under s. 289.645, expenditures of grant payments under s. 16.297 (1m),
17unreimbursed expenses related to an emergency declared under s. 323.10,
18expenditures from moneys received pursuant to P.L. 111-5, expenditures from
19moneys received pursuant to s. 77.70 (2) (b) 2. to 4.,
and expenditures made pursuant
20to a purchasing agreement with a school district whereby the municipality makes
21purchases on behalf of the school district; for the year of the statement under s.
2279.015 increased over its municipal budget as adjusted under sub. (6); exclusive of
23principal and interest on long-term debt and exclusive of revenue sharing payments
24under s. 66.0305, payments of premiums under s. 66.0137 (5) (c) 1. and 1m., recycling
25fee payments under s. 289.645, expenditures of grant payments under s. 16.297 (1m),

1unreimbursed expenses related to an emergency declared under s. 323.10,
2expenditures from moneys received pursuant to P.L. 111-5, expenditures from
3moneys received pursuant to s. 77.70 (2) (b) 2. to 4.,
and expenditures made pursuant
4to a purchasing agreement with a school district whereby the municipality makes
5purchases on behalf of the school district; for the year before that year by less than
6the sum of the inflation factor and the valuation factor, rounded to the nearest 0.10
7percent.
AB521-ASA1,9 8Section 9. 79.10 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,7,169 79.10 (2) (c) On or before November 20 of the year preceding the distribution
10under sub. (7m) (bf) or (cm), the department of revenue shall notify the Milwaukee
11County treasurer and the clerk of each city, village, and town in Milwaukee County
12of the estimated fair market values, as determined under sub. (11) (e) 1. and 2., used
13to calculate the credits under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 1. and 2. and of the amount to be
14distributed under sub. (7m) (bf) or (cm). The anticipated receipt of such distribution
15shall not be taken into consideration in determining the tax rate but shall be applied
16as tax credits.
AB521-ASA1,10 17Section 10. 79.10 (5f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,7,2018 79.10 (5f) Additional property tax relief credits. Each city, village, and town
19in Milwaukee County shall receive, from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (3) (g),
20the following amounts:
AB521-ASA1,7,2421 (a) In order to provide the credit under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 1., an amount determined
22by multiplying the county tax rate by the estimated fair market value, not exceeding
23the value determined under sub. (11) (e) 1., of every parcel of real property that is
24located in the city, village, or town.
AB521-ASA1,8,4
1(b) In order to provide the credit under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 2., an amount determined
2by multiplying the municipal tax rate by the estimated fair market value, not
3exceeding the value determined under sub. (11) (e) 2., of every parcel of real property
4that is located in the city, village, or town.
AB521-ASA1,11 5Section 11. 79.10 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,8,196 79.10 (6m) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), if the department of
7administration or the department of revenue determines by October 1 of the year of
8any distribution under subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m) that there was an overpayment
9or underpayment made in that year's distribution by the department of
10administration to municipalities, as determined under subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m),
11because of an error by the department of administration, the department of revenue
12or any municipality, the overpayment or underpayment shall be corrected as
13provided in this paragraph. Any overpayment shall be corrected by reducing the
14subsequent year's distribution, as determined under subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m), by
15an amount equal to the amount of the overpayment. Any underpayment shall be
16corrected by increasing the subsequent year's distribution, as determined under
17subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m), by an amount equal to the amount of the underpayment.
18Corrections shall be made in the distributions to all municipalities affected by the
19error. Corrections shall be without interest.
AB521-ASA1,12 20Section 12. 79.10 (7m) (bf) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,8,2421 79.10 (7m) (bf) Additional property tax relief credits. 1. Except as provided in
22par. (cm), the amounts determined under sub. (5f) shall be distributed from the
23appropriation under s. 20.835 (3) (g) by the department of administration to
24Milwaukee County on the 4th Monday in July.
AB521-ASA1,9,5
12. Except as provided in par. (cm), the county treasurer shall settle for the
2amounts distributed on the 4th Monday in July under this paragraph with each
3municipality and taxing jurisdiction in the county not later than August 20. Failure
4to settle timely under this subdivision subjects the county treasurer to the penalties
5under s. 74.31.
AB521-ASA1,13 6Section 13. 79.10 (7m) (cm) 1. a. and b. and 2. a. and b. of the statutes are
7amended to read:
AB521-ASA1,9,238 79.10 (7m) (cm) 1. a. If, in any year, the total of the amounts determined under
9subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m) for any municipality is $3,000,000 or more, the
10municipality, with the approval of the majority of the members of the municipality's
11governing body, may notify the department of administration to distribute the
12amounts directly to the municipality and the department of administration shall
13distribute the amounts at the time and in the manner provided under pars. (a) 1., (b)
141., (bf) 1., and (c) 1. Beginning in 2018, if the municipality approves the distribution
15under this subd. 1. a. by enacting an ordinance and provides a copy of the ordinance
16to the department of administration and the department of revenue, the department
17of administration shall distribute the amounts determined under subs. (4), (5), (5f),
18and (5m) to the municipality as provided under this subd. 1. a. for the year in which
19the municipality enacts the ordinance and in all subsequent years until the
20municipality notifies the department of administration and the department of
21revenue that the municipality has repealed the ordinance or until the total amounts
22under subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m) to be distributed to the municipality in a year is
23less than $3,000,000.
AB521-ASA1,9,2524 b. The treasurer of the municipality shall settle for the amounts distributed
25under pars. (a) 1., (bf) 1., and (c) 1. on the 4th Monday in July with the appropriate

1county treasurer not later than August 15. Failure to settle timely under this
2subdivision subjects the treasurer of the municipality to the penalties under s. 74.31.
3On or before August 20, the county treasurer shall settle with each taxing
4jurisdiction, including towns, villages, and cities, except 1st class cities, in the
5county.
AB521-ASA1,10,96 2. a. The department of administration shall distribute the amounts
7determined under subs. (4), (5), (5f), and (5m) directly to any municipality that
8enacts an ordinance under s. 74.12 at the time and in the manner provided under
9pars. (a) 1., (b) 1., (bf) 1., and (c) 1.
AB521-ASA1,10,1610 b. The treasurer of the municipality shall settle for the amounts distributed
11under pars. (a) 1., (bf) 1., and (c) 1. on the 4th Monday in July with the appropriate
12county treasurer not later than August 15. Failure to settle timely under this
13subdivision subjects the treasurer of the municipality to the penalties under s. 74.31.
14On or before August 20, the county treasurer shall settle with each taxing
15jurisdiction, including towns, villages, and cities, except 1st class cities, in the
16county.
AB521-ASA1,14 17Section 14. 79.10 (9) (bf) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,10,2218 79.10 (9) (bf) Additional property tax relief credits. 1. Except as provided in
19ss. 79.175 and 79.18, the credit under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 1. shall be allocated to every
20parcel of real property in an amount determined by multiplying the estimated fair
21market value of the property, not exceeding the value determined under sub. (11) (e)
221., by the county tax rate.
AB521-ASA1,11,223 2. Except as provided in ss. 79.175 and 79.18, the credit under s. 77.70 (2) (b)
242. shall be allocated to every parcel of real property in an amount determined by

1multiplying the estimated fair market value of the property, not exceeding the value
2determined under sub. (11) (e) 2., by the municipal tax rate.
AB521-ASA1,15 3Section 15. 79.10 (9) (c) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,11,54 79.10 (9) (c) 4. The credits under par. (bf) 1. and 2. shall reduce the property
5taxes otherwise payable.
AB521-ASA1,16 6Section 16. 79.10 (11) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB521-ASA1,11,97 79.10 (11) (e) 1. Before November 20, the department of revenue shall
8calculate, to the nearest $100, the estimated fair market value necessary to
9distribute the total amount available for distribution under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 1.
AB521-ASA1,11,1210 2. Before November 20, the department of revenue shall calculate, to the
11nearest $100, the estimated fair market value necessary to distribute the total
12amount available for distribution under s. 77.70 (2) (b) 2.
AB521-ASA1,17 13Section 17 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB521-ASA1,11,1614 (1) Revenue collected from a sales and use tax imposed under s. 77.70 (2) (a)
15and expenditures made pursuant to s. 77.70 (2) (b) shall have no effect on any local
16government funding formula.
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