SB531: Bill Text

LRB-5029/3

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1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Senate BILL 531

March 24, 1998 - Introduced by Senator Wineke, cosponsored by Representative Boyle, by request of Gary Bahr and S.T.O.P., Stop Taxes on Property. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB531,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 119.46; to amend 65.07 (1) (e); and to create 119.46 (2), 120.105, 120.12 (3) (e) and 120.44 (3) of the statutes; relating to: abolishing the property tax levy for school operations and establishing a school funding study committee.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Beginning in 2001, this bill prohibits a school board, and the common council in a 1st class city, from levying a tax for school operations and prohibits the annual meeting in a common or union high school district from voting a tax for school operations. The bill also creates a school funding study committee, consisting of the governor, the state superintendent of public instruction, the speaker of the assembly, the president of the senate and the leader of the minority party in each house of the legislature. The bill directs the committee to study the funding of public elementary and secondary schools in this state. By July 1, 2000, the committee must report its recommendations to the legislature.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB531, s. 1 Section 1. 65.07 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB531,2,2 65.07 (1) (e) A school operations fund, as constituted and for the purposes specified in s. 119.46 (1).

SB531, s. 2 Section 2. 119.46 of the statutes is renumbered 119.46 (1) and amended to read:

SB531,2,16 119.46 (1) As part of the budget transmitted annually to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), the board shall report the amount of money required for the ensuing school year to operate all public schools in the city under this chapter, to repair and keep in order school buildings and equipment, to make material improvements to school property and to purchase necessary additions to school sites. The common council shall levy and collect a tax upon all the property subject to taxation in the city, which shall be equal to the amount of money required by the board for the purposes set forth in this section subsection, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected. Such taxes shall be in addition to all other taxes which the city is authorized to levy. The taxes so levied and collected, together with the other funds provided by law and placed at the disposal of the city for the same purposes, shall constitute the school operations fund.

SB531, s. 3 Section 3. 119.46 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

SB531,2,19 119.46 (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1) and s. 65.07 (1) (e), beginning in 2001 the common council of a 1st class city may not levy a tax for school operations.

SB531, s. 4 Section 4. 120.105 of the statutes is created to read:

SB531,2,23 120.105 Annual meeting taxing authority. Notwithstanding s. 120.10 (6) to (8), (10m) and (11), beginning in 2001 the annual meeting of a common or union high school district may not vote a tax for school operations.

SB531, s. 5 Section 5. 120.12 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB531,3,2 120.12 (3) (e) Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (d), beginning in 2001 a school board may not levy a tax for school operations.

SB531, s. 6 Section 6. 120.44 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

SB531,3,5 120.44 (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), beginning in 2001 a unified school district may not levy a tax for school purposes.

SB531, s. 7 Section 7. Nonstatutory provisions; school funding study committee.

SB531,3,18 (1) There is established a school funding study committee. The committee shall consist of the governor, the state superintendent of public instruction, the speaker of the assembly, the president of the senate and the leader of the minority party in each house of the legislature. The governor shall serve as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall study the funding of public elementary and secondary schools in this state. For a source of funds, the committee shall first consider the elimination of various state tax exemptions. By July 1, 2000, the committee shall submit a report to the legislature in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) of the statutes. The report shall include the committee's recommendations and suggested legislation for funding the public elementary and secondary schools in this state. The committee terminates upon submission of the report.

SB531,3,19 (End)