News of the Day

Property taxes on a median-valued home would tick upwards under Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal at about the rate of inflation, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

The new Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate projects Evers’ budget plan would cause the estimated net tax bill on a median-valued home to increase 2% next year and by 1.6% the year after that. The impact to individual property taxpayers would vary and could be more or less, depending on various factors.

The estimate finds statewide net property-tax levies would increase by 2.4% next year and by 2.1% in the second year of the biennium under Evers’ budget.

Wisconsin ranked 47th in the nation in a recent WalletHub analysis of which states have the lowest property tax rate.

On average, American households pay nearly $2,300 in property taxes on their homes annually, according to the WalletHub study.

In Wisconsin, the effective property tax rate was 1.94 percent, meaning that the annual tax bill on a $194,000 home was $3,756, WalletHub reported. The median home value in Wisconsin was estimated at $169,300, and owners of median-value homes paid $3,286 in property taxes annually.

A Wisconsin appeals court on Wednesday reinstated laws Republicans passed during a lame-duck session to weaken the Democratic governor and attorney general, but the statutes remain blocked because of a ruling in a separate case.

Multiple liberal-leaning groups have challenged the laws in separate lawsuits. Last week Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess blocked the statutes, finding lawmakers convened illegally when they passed them.

The 3rd District Court of Appeals essentially wiped out that ruling Wednesday by granting a GOP request for a stay. The court said Niess underestimated Republicans’ chances for success on appeal as well as the harm that blocking potentially valid legislation can cause.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos issued a joint statement Wednesday praising the decision, saying the rule of law has prevailed. Evers issued a statement saying he’s confident the lame-duck laws will ultimately fall.

A Dane County judge has temporarily enjoined several sections of laws passed in a December extraordinary session following a challenge brought by a series of unions.

Judge Frank Remington’s issuance of a partial temporary injunction comes as the laws are already on hold following a separate Dane County judge’s ruling in a different lame-duck suit last week.

Today’s ruling also rejects a motion to dismiss the case from the GOP Legislature, as well as its attorney’s request for a stay pending appeal.

Remington in his decision likened the state Constitution to “a keel on a great ship,” saying while it’s not visible, it has a critical function and aims to maintain the balance of each arm of government.

“In December, 2018 the Legislature and then Governor Scott Walker upended the balance that this State has had for most all of its 171 years,” he continued. “The time has come to right this ship-of-state so Wisconsin can resume smooth sailing ahead.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, vowed to appeal the decision.

“It’s encouraging to see the court ruling in our favor on elements of this case,” they said. “However, all of the Legislature’s actions are consistent with the separation of powers that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld for decades.”

But Gov. Tony Evers said the latest ruling makes it “abundantly clear that the lame duck session was nothing more than an illegal power grab intended to override the will of the people.”

“It is time to move beyond this chapter and work together to build a Wisconsin that puts the people first,” he said.

With the press of a button, scammers are able to change their phone number from 10 random digits to a number with a familiar area code. Wisconsin state lawmakers have introduced new legislation to combat this activity, but technology may be advancing faster than the law.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, spam, scam and robocalls are the number one consumer complaint in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin lawmakers are hoping to curb spoofing with Senate Bill 132. The bill proposes fining people up to $10,000 for misrepresenting their caller ID. But with many spam calls coming from outside the country, even nationwide legislation may not be enough.

Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess on Thursday issued a temporary injunction to block the lame-duck laws after he found the Republican-controlled Legislature did not lawfully meet to pass them.

The League of Women Voters, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and three Wisconsin voters in January in their lawsuit alleged Republicans had convened an illegal legislative session and the laws should be voided.

Niess in his ruling sided with those groups and barred anyone from enforcing the laws that were passed during a 24-hour floor period in December by Republican lawmakers over the objection of Democratic lawmakers, Evers and Kaul.

“The bottom line in this case is that the Legislature did not lawfully meet during its December 2018 ‘Extraordinary Session,’ ” therefore violating the state Constitution, Niess wrote.

Minutes after the judge issued his ruling, Republican legislative leaders who wrote the laws promised to appeal it.

“Today’s ruling only creates chaos and will surely raise questions about items passed during previous extraordinary sessions, including stronger laws against child sexual predators and drunk drivers,” Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester said in a statement.

The Federal Reserve sent a stark message Wednesday: The economy is slowing. And it won’t be raising interest rates anytime soon.

The central bank said it was keeping its benchmark rate — which can influence everything from mortgages to credit cards to home equity lines of credit — in a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent. It also announced that by September, it will no longer reduce its bond portfolio, a change intended to help keep long-term loan rates down.

Combined, the moves signal no major increases in borrowing rates for consumers and businesses. And together with the Fed’s dimmer forecast for growth this year — 2.1 percent, down from a previous projection of 2.3 percent — the statement it issued after its latest policy meeting suggests it’s grown more concerned about the economy. What’s more, with inflation remaining mild, the Fed feels no pressure to tighten credit.

The Fed’s new embrace of patience and flexibility reflects its response since the start of the year to slow growth at home and abroad, a nervous stock market and persistently mild inflation. The Fed executed an abrupt pivot when it met in January by signaling that it no longer expected to raise rates anytime soon.

The shift toward a more hands-off Fed and away from a policy of steadily tightening credit suggests that the policymakers recognize that they went too far after they met in December. At that meeting, the Fed approved a fourth rate hike for 2018 and projected two additional rate increases in 2019. Powell also said he thought the balance sheet reduction would be on “automatic pilot.”

In an effort to alleviate the financial and emotional stress experienced by our state’s dairy
farmers, the 31 members of the Dairy Task Force 2.0 approved 49 recommendations at their Friday,  March 15th meeting in Sheboygan.

“Every member of this task force understands the importance of our state’s dairy community and the challenges our farmers are facing,” said DATCP Secretary-designee Brad Pfaff. “This group rolled up its sleeves, thought long and hard, and provided a number of important recommendations on what can be done to maintain and grow our state’s world-class dairy industry.”

The Dairy Task Force 2.0 considered how farmers could ensure they are as competitive as they can be in the marketplace. Members recommended all milk producers and buyers to have a current contract/member agreement with the organization marketing the farm’s milk. The group also recommended requiring official animal identification to help prevent or respond to animal disease threats.

Members emphasized the importance of the dairy industry connecting with consumers by sharing a consistent, accurate, and relatable message. The Dairy Task Force 2.0 recommended additional agricultural impact studies, support for agritourism, and need for additional educational programming for non-farm audiences. One recommendation also focused on the need for truth in food labeling for consumers in the marketplace.

The Dairy Task Force 2.0 stressed the need for increased connections across the industry.
Recommendations detailed the need for better collaboration and sharing ideas across the UW System and private industry and the need for more public and private partnerships such as the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program. The group also noted the need for increased investments in rural infrastructure, including transportation and broadband.

A theme across several recommendations was the need to expand our markets, locally, regionally, and around the world. The group identified the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research as a partner to gain consumer preference and insights, offer technical assistance for product development, and support export growth. The Dairy Task Force 2.0 also noted the need to reduce logistical obstacles, such as load consolidation.

The Dairy Task Force 2.0 will schedule its next meeting in the coming weeks. A final report, including all 51 recommendations, is expected to be completed this summer. For more information, visit www.dairytaskforce.wi.gov.