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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
May 8, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Macco, O'Connor, Allen,
Armstrong, Behnke, Dittrich, Gundrum, Magnafici and Schraa. Referred to
Committee on Local Government.
AB256,1,9 1An Act to repeal 20.835 (1) (c), 20.835 (1) (db), 20.835 (1) (dm), 20.835 (1) (e),
220.835 (1) (f), 20.835 (1) (fa), 20.835 (1) (r), 49.45 (51), 79.01, 79.02 (3) (e) and
379.035 (1); to renumber 79.02 (3) (a); to amend 79.035 (4) (c) 2., 79.035 (4) (d)
42., 79.035 (4) (e) 2., 79.035 (4) (f) 2., 79.035 (4) (g), 79.035 (4) (h), 79.035 (4) (i),
579.035 (5) and 79.05 (3) (d); to repeal and recreate 79.035 (5) and 79.035 (9)
6(intro.); and to create 16.5185 (3), 16.5186, 20.835 (1) (s), 20.835 (1) (t), 20.835
7(1) (u), 20.835 (1) (v), 20.835 (1) (w), 20.835 (1) (x), 25.17 (1) (jf), 25.491, 79.035
8(9) and 79.05 (4) of the statutes; relating to: increasing county and municipal
9aid payments and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, each county and municipality annually receives county and
municipal aid payments. With certain exceptions, each county and municipality
receives a county and municipal aid payment equal to the amount of the payment the
county or municipality received in 2012. This bill creates a trust fund designated as
the local government aid fund, to consist of moneys transferred each fiscal year from
the general fund. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the amount transferred into the local
government aid fund is equal to 20 percent of the amount of state sales and use tax

revenues, and in subsequent fiscal years the amounts transferred into the fund for
public utility aid, county and municipal aid, per capita deficiency aid, and additional
county and municipal aid will increase by the percentage increase in the amount of
sales and use tax revenue from the previous fiscal year to the current fiscal year. In
2024, counties and municipalities will receive a county and municipal aid payment
equal to the amount of the payment received by the county or municipality in 2012,
and in subsequent years, each payment will increase by the percentage increase in
the amount of sales and use tax revenue. The bill also requires the Department of
Revenue to distribute a per capita deficiency aid payment to certain towns, cities,
villages, and counties. The total amount available to be distributed as per capita
deficiency aid payments will increase each year by the percentage increase in the
amount of sales and use tax revenue.
In addition, each county and municipality will receive an additional payment
from the local government aid fund to use for hiring, training, and retaining law
enforcement officers, members of a paid fire department, and emergency medical
responders and for local highways. Under the bill, this payment is equal to 10
percent of the total amounts that a county or municipality receives for county and
municipal aid payment and for per capita deficiency aid. If in any year a county or
municipality decreases the amount of its budget dedicated to hiring, training, and
retaining law enforcement officers, members of the paid fire department, and
emergency medical responders and for local highways, so that the amount is less
than the amount so dedicated in the previous year, the secretary of the Department
of Administration will reduce the county's or municipality's additional payment by
the amount of the decrease in the county's or municipality's budget dedicated to
hiring, training, and retaining law enforcement officers, members of the paid fire
department, and emergency medical responders and for local highways.
The bill also makes the following fiscal and appropriation changes:
1. Creates a segregated fund appropriation from the local government aid fund
for the expenditure restraint program payments and repeals the general purpose
revenue appropriation for those payments. Under current law, a municipality is
eligible to receive an expenditure restraint payment if its property tax levy is greater
than five mills and if the annual increase in its municipal budget, subject to certain
exceptions, is less than the sum of factors based on inflation and the increased value
of property in the municipality as a result of new construction. The bill also provides
that in 2025, each municipality will receive an expenditure restraint program
payment that is equal to the payment received by the municipality in 2024.
2. Creates a segregated fund appropriation from the local government aid fund
for public utility aid payments to counties and municipalities and repeals the general
purpose revenue appropriation existing for those payments. Under current law,
counties and municipalities where power production plants, electric substations,
and general public utility structures are located receive public utility aid payments
based on a statutory formula.
3. Creates a segregated fund appropriation from the local government aid fund
for computer aid payments to taxing jurisdictions and repeals the general purpose
revenue appropriation existing for those payments. Under current law, computers

and certain computer-related equipment are exempt from local personal property
taxes, and DOA makes computer aid payments to taxing jurisdictions to compensate
them for the corresponding loss of property tax revenue.
4. Creates a segregated fund appropriation from the local government aid fund
for exempt personal property aid payments to taxing jurisdictions and repeals the
general purpose revenue appropriation existing for those payments. Under current
law, machinery, tools, and patterns not used for manufacturing purposes are exempt
from local personal property taxes, and DOA makes exempt personal property aid
payments to taxing jurisdictions to compensate them for the corresponding loss of
property tax revenue. The bill also appropriates funds from the local government aid
fund to make aid payments to taxing jurisdictions during the 2024-25 fiscal year if
the personal property tax is repealed during the 2023-24 legislative session.
5. Creates a segregated fund appropriation from the local government aid fund
for video service provider fee aid payments to municipalities and repeals the general
purpose revenue appropriation existing for those payments. Under current law, the
state provides an aid payment to municipalities to compensate the municipalities for
a state-mandated reduction in the amount of video service provider franchise fees
that a municipality may impose and collect.
7. Repeals the appropriation from the police and fire protection fund that
provides funds for county and municipal aid payments.
8. Eliminates the general purpose revenue provided to local government units
through the Medical Assistance program for providing transportation for medical
care.
9. Transfers, beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year, $8,000,000 from the local
government aid fund to the transportation fund in each fiscal year.
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:
AB256,1 1Section 1. 16.5185 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,3,42 16.5185 (3) On December 30, 2024, and on each December 30 thereafter, the
3secretary shall transfer from the local government aid fund to the transportation
4fund $8,000,000.
AB256,2 5Section 2 . 16.5186 of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,4,4 616.5186 Transfers involving the local government aid fund. (1)
7Beginning in fiscal year 2024-25, on the 2nd Monday in July in each fiscal year, the

1secretary shall transfer from the general fund to the local government aid fund 15
2percent of the amount specified under s. 25.491, and on the 2nd Monday in November
3in each fiscal year, the secretary shall transfer from the general fund to the local
4government aid fund 85 percent of the amount specified under s. 25.491.
AB256,4,8 5(2) On June 30, 2025, and on each June 30 thereafter, the secretary shall
6transfer the unencumbered balance of the local government aid fund in excess of 0.1
7percent of the amounts deposited under s. 25.491 during that fiscal year, from the
8local government aid fund to the general fund.
AB256,3 9Section 3 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
10the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB256,4 11Section 4 . 20.835 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,5 12Section 5 . 20.835 (1) (db) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,6 13Section 6 . 20.835 (1) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,7 14Section 7 . 20.835 (1) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,8 15Section 8 . 20.835 (1) (f) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,9 16Section 9 . 20.835 (1) (fa) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,10 17Section 10 . 20.835 (1) (r) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,11 18Section 11 . 20.835 (1) (s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,2
120.835 (1) (s) Expenditure restraint program. From the local government aid
2fund, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 79.05 (3).
AB256,12 3Section 12 . 20.835 (1) (t) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,54 20.835 (1) (t) County and municipal aid. From the local government aid fund,
5a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 79.035 (9).
AB256,13 6Section 13 . 20.835 (1) (u) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,87 20.835 (1) (u) Public utility distribution account. From the local government
8aid fund, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 79.04.
AB256,14 9Section 14 . 20.835 (1) (v) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,1110 20.835 (1) (v) State aid; computer aid payments. From the local government
11aid fund, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 79.095.
AB256,15 12Section 15 . 20.835 (1) (w) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,1513 20.835 (1) (w) State aid; personal property tax exemption. From the local
14government aid fund, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 79.096 and
152023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 37 (1).
AB256,16 16Section 16 . 20.835 (1) (x) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,1917 20.835 (1) (x) State aid; video service provider fee. From the local government
18aid fund, the amounts in the schedule to make the state aid payments under s.
1979.097.
AB256,17 20Section 17 . 25.17 (1) (jf) of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,2121 25.17 (1) (jf) Local government aid fund (s. 25.491);
AB256,18 22Section 18 . 25.491 of the statutes is created to read:
AB256,5,25 2325.491 Local government aid fund. (1) There is established a separate
24nonlapsible trust fund designated as the local government aid fund, to consist of the
25following moneys transferred from the general fund:
AB256,6,3
1(a) In fiscal year 2024-25, 20 percent of the amount of revenues received from
2the taxes imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 as specified for that fiscal year under
3s. 20.005 (1) by the biennial budget act.
AB256,6,54 (b) In fiscal year 2025-26, and in each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of the
5following:
AB256,6,66 1. The amount transferred from the general fund in the previous fiscal year.
AB256,6,117 2. The percentage change in the amount of revenues received from the taxes
8imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 for the current fiscal year from the previous fiscal
9year, as specified for that fiscal year under s. 20.005 (1) by the biennial budget act
10multiplied by the sum of the amounts credited to the accounts under subs. (2), (3),
11(4), and (5) in the previous fiscal year.
AB256,6,15 12(2) (a) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
13that is designated the public utility distribution account. In fiscal year 2024-25, and
14in each fiscal year thereafter, the sums specified in s. 79.04 shall be credited to this
15account.
AB256,6,2116 (b) Each fiscal year, the department of administration shall make payments
17under this subsection before any other payments under this section. If the amount
18remaining after making the payments under this subsection is not sufficient to make
19the full payments under subs. (3), (4), and (5), the department of administration shall
20make payments in proportion to the amount owed and the total remaining amount
21available for distribution.
AB256,7,5 22(3) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
23that is designated the county and municipal base aid account. In fiscal year 2024-25,
24the total amount of payments made in the previous fiscal year under s. 79.035 shall
25be credited to this account. In fiscal year 2025-26, and in each fiscal year thereafter,

1an amount equal to the amount credited to this account in the previous fiscal year,
2and subject to sub. (2) (b), increased by the percentage change in the amount of
3revenues received from the taxes imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 from the
4previous fiscal year to the current fiscal year as determined under sub. (1), shall be
5credited to this account.
AB256,7,8 6(4) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
7that is designated the per capita deficiency aid account to make the payments under
8s. 79.035 (9) (b). The following amounts shall be credited to this account:
AB256,7,149 (a) In fiscal year 2024-25, for distribution to towns, $65,000,000. In fiscal year
102025-26, and in each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the amount credited
11to this account under this paragraph in the previous fiscal year, and subject to sub.
12(2) (b), increased by the percentage change in the amount of revenues received from
13the taxes imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 from the previous fiscal year to the
14current fiscal year as determined under sub. (1), shall be credited to this account.
AB256,7,2115 (b) In fiscal year 2024-25, for distribution to cities and villages, $75,000,000.
16In fiscal year 2025-26, and in each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the
17amount credited to this account under this paragraph in the previous fiscal year, and
18subject to sub. (2) (b), increased by the percentage change in the amount of revenues
19received from the taxes imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 from the previous fiscal
20year to the current fiscal year as determined under sub. (1), shall be credited to this
21account.
AB256,8,222 (c) In fiscal year 2024-25, for distribution to counties, $57,500,000. In fiscal
23year 2025-26, and in each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the amount
24credited to this account under this paragraph in the previous fiscal year, and subject
25to sub. (2) (b), increased by the percentage change in the amount of revenues received

1from the taxes imposed under ss. 77.52 and 77.53 from the previous fiscal year to the
2current fiscal year as determined under sub. (1), shall be credited to this account.
AB256,8,7 3(5) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
4that is designated the additional county and municipal aid account to make the
5payments under s. 79.035 (9) (c). In fiscal year 2024-25, and in each fiscal year
6thereafter, an amount equal to 10 percent of the sum of the amounts credited to the
7accounts under subs. (3) and (4) shall be credited to this account.
AB256,8,10 8(6) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
9that is designated the expenditure restraint program account to make the payments
10under s. 79.05.
AB256,8,12 11(7) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
12that is designated “state aid; computers” to make the payments under s. 79.095.
AB256,8,15 13(8) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
14that is designated “state aid; personal property” to make the payments under s.
1579.096.
AB256,8,18 16(9) There is established in the local government aid fund a separate account
17that is designated “state aid; video service provider fee” to make the payments under
18s. 79.097.
AB256,19 19Section 19. 49.45 (51) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,20 20Section 20 . 79.01 of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,21 21Section 21. 79.02 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 79.02 (3).
AB256,22 22Section 22. 79.02 (3) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,23 23Section 23 . 79.035 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
AB256,24 24Section 24. 79.035 (4) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB256,9,5
179.035 (4) (c) 2. Except as provided under par. (h), the reduction determined
2under this paragraph may not exceed the lesser of an amount equal to 15 percent of
3the municipality's payment under this section in 2011, prior to any reduction under
4s. 79.02 (3) (e), 2021 stats., or 10 cents for each $1,000 of the municipality's equalized
5value, as determined under s. 70.57.
AB256,25 6Section 25. 79.035 (4) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB256,9,117 79.035 (4) (d) 2. Except as provided in par. (h), the reduction determined under
8this paragraph may not exceed the lesser of an amount equal to 15 percent of the
9municipality's payment under this section in 2011, prior to any reduction under s.
1079.02 (3) (e), 2021 stats., or 15 cents for each $1,000 of the municipality's equalized
11value, as determined under s. 70.57.
AB256,26 12Section 26. 79.035 (4) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB256,9,1713 79.035 (4) (e) 2. Except as provided in par. (h), the reduction determined under
14this paragraph may not exceed the lesser of an amount equal to 15 percent of the
15municipality's payment under this section in 2011, prior to any reduction under s.
1679.02 (3) (e), 2021 stats., or 25 cents for each $1,000 of the municipality's equalized
17value, as determined under s. 70.57.
AB256,27 18Section 27. 79.035 (4) (f) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB256,9,2319 79.035 (4) (f) 2. Except as provided in par. (h), the reduction determined under
20this paragraph may not exceed the lesser of an amount equal to 15 percent of the
21municipality's payment under this section in 2011, prior to any reduction under s.
2279.02 (3) (e), 2021 stats., or 30 cents for each $1,000 of the municipality's equalized
23value, as determined under s. 70.57.
AB256,28 24Section 28. 79.035 (4) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB256,10,8
179.035 (4) (g) The reduction for a municipality that has a population greater
2than 110,000 is an amount equal to 30 cents for each $1,000 of the municipality's
3equalized value, as determined under s. 70.57, plus an amount equal to the
4municipality's population multiplied by the amount determined under par. (b) 1.,
5except that the reduction determined under this paragraph may not exceed the
6lesser of an amount equal to 25 percent of the municipality's payment under this
7section in 2011, prior to any reduction under s. 79.02 (3) (e), 2021 stats., or 35 cents
8for each $1,000 in equalized value, as determined under s. 70.57.
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