Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz
                 (R-Menomonee Falls)
             listens to testimony
                  at YMCA tax exemption
                  hearing

He said the attack is inspired by for-profit health clubs. Dave Calnin of Premier Fitness, Plymouth, said the YMCA drove him out of business in Saukville and cost him his life's savings.

The hearing was held on Assembly Bill 250, a bill that would grant a property tax exemption to YMCAs regardless of the use to which they put their property.

For example, a YMCA could buy a commercial building under the bill, lease it to a local business and pay no property taxes on the building.

Mary Hlavinka, assessor in New Berlin and president of the Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers, said assessors are simply trying to differentiate between activities that are legitimately tax exempt and those that are not.

"For every exemption that is granted, there is a tax shift," she said.

The Assembly Transportation Committee is holding hearings in  in Eau Claire and Milwaukee next week on the $5 billion gap between expected transportation fund revenue and the amount the state Department of Transportation says it needs to complete its highway wish list between now and 2020. Hearings were being held this week in Wausau and Green Bay.

Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield), committee chair, said in a press release that the $5 billion gap has prompted questions about how Wisconsin funds its transportation system.

He called the current system of  transportation funding in Wisconsin "extraordinarily user driven."

The Alliance is very concerned that local transportation needs might get lost in the dialog that Stone is
seeking to initiate -- and we're asking your help to keep that from happening.

As we understand it, each committee hearing will begin with an hour long DOT presentation
followed by a panel discussion of invited parties. We are hoping that city leaders can invite themselves  to
participate in the panel discussions and present local concerns.

Please help us articulate the need to balance local transportation needs with state highway needs
by playing a prominent role in the hearings in your area.

League, Alliance united on shared revenue,
transportation aid

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities' board of directors May 11 adopted positions on shared revenues and general transportation aids that mirror positions adopted by the Alliance board last month in Fond du Lac.

The groups are calling for a 2.5% increase in state shared revenue payments in 2002, and another 2.5% increase in 2003 as the state charts a transition from the current shared revenue formula to another equalizing mechanism. The increases of 2.5% a year were chosen because that's the rate of increase in general purpose revenue spending in the state budget bill.

In addition, we are recommending that the general transportation aid formula be frozen in both years of the biennium, and that each municipality's aids be increased 2.9% in fiscal year 2002-03, and 4.5% in fiscal year 2003-04, consistent with the increase contained in the state budget bill for the state highway program.

In both cases, the aid increases would enable communities to hold their own while the state develops a new shared revenue system that better reflects the state-local partnership, and a new transportation aids formula that better reflects lane miles traveled and local need.

Curt Witynski, assistant director of the   League, said he hopes the united stand will make it easier to explain the two groups' position to lawmakers. Help the Alliance and the League lobby these issues.

Group Polishing Proposed
Right-of-Way Restoration Standards

A committee of the Regional Telecommunications Commission, a coalition of communities in southeastern Wisconsin, is putting the finishing touches on restoration standards for companies that want to use municipal rights of way.

The commission will be requesting two-year build-out plans from utilities and wants to establish a central clearinghouse for all major projects. It also is interested in a ban on digging up streets within 2-4 years after they are built. An item that should  win accolades from the utilities: good and speedy inspections.

For more information, e-mail commission chair Bob Chernow.

Texas Takings Bill Aims at Rezoning

Cities in Texas are fighting a proposal that would require them to pay citizens if a rezoning reduced the value of a piece of property. The Texas Association of Realtors wants the payments to occur when a city reduces a parcel's value by 25% or more without the owner's acquiescence, the Austin American Statesman reported May 7.

The bill was approved by the Texas Senate on a 24 - 4 vote, taking municipal lobbyists by surprise.

"No other state has such a law," said Shanna Igo, of the Texas Municipal League.

SB 55 / AB 144, the state budget bill. Senate Democratic leaders on May 14 announced a plan to pass the budget by July 1. The plan requires the Joint Finance Committee to complete action on the budget by June 1. Each house would have a week to pass its version of the budget, a confwerence committee would hammer out a final package by June 28, and both houses would consider the plan on June 29.

   AB 161, sponsored by Rep. Lee Meyerhofer (D-Kaukauna), was introduced March 1. It would exempt cities, villages, towns, counties, school and technical college districts and UW schools from paying the state gasoline tax. It has 56 co-sponsors in the two houses, including the entire membership of the Senate Transportation Committee. Other gas-tax exemption bills are circulating for co-sponsorship and may be introduced soon.

  AB 58 and SB 29, allowing low-speed vehicles on streets and highways with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. AB 58 passed the Assembly 93-4 March 8 and was sent to the Senate. Alliance members voted to oppose last session's version of the bill on public safety grounds.

AB 262,  by Rep. Stephen Freese (R-Dodgeville), to compensate municipalities, counties and school districts for revenue lost due to the immediate phase-in of use-value assessment. The total aid over the next six years would be $124.4 million. Our position:

AB 277 and SB 123, historic preservation bills. Several cities have expressed concerns over certain provisions. The Assembly Tourism & Recreation Committee is willing to work on a compromise. Contact Gail.

AB 335, the property tax due-date extension bill.  A hearing was held May 10, and many city treasurers testified. Rep. Lehman is willing to work on a compromise.  Contact Gail.