SB 493 — Relating to: authorizing La Crosse County to become a premier resort area. (FE)

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows La Crosse County to become a premier resort area despite not meeting the typical requirement of 40% tourism-related retail property value, with specific regulations on tax proceeds usage.

• 66.1113 (2) (a)

  at least 40 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property within such political subdivision is used by tourism-related retailers. → at least 40 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property within such political subdivision is used by tourism-related retailers.

  The bill retains the 40% requirement for most political subdivisions but creates an exception for La Crosse County.

• 66.1113 (2) (b)

  a political subdivision that is a premier resort area may impose the tax under s. 77.994. → a political subdivision that is a premier resort area may impose the tax under s. 77.994.

  The bill specifies that the tax can be imposed only by those political subdivisions recognized as premier resort areas.

• 66.1113

  66.1113 (2) (k) 1. La Crosse County may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution declaring itself to be a premier resort area under par. (a) even if less than 40 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property within the county is used by tourism-related retailers.

  La Crosse County is authorized to declare itself a premier resort area without meeting the usual tourism-related property value requirement.

• 66.1113

  66.1113 (2) (k) 2. Notwithstanding par. (d), if an ordinance enacted or resolution adopted as described under subd. 1. takes effect, the proceeds of the tax may be used only to pay for transportation expenses within the county, such as construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways, including bridges. No amount of the tax proceeds may be used to pay for mass transit.

  Tax proceeds must be dedicated to transportation expenses in La Crosse County, prohibiting use for mass transit.

• 66.1113

  66.1113 (2) (k) 2. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds shall be spent to benefit county highways and the county board may distribute the remaining 25 percent of the proceeds to cities, villages, and towns that are located entirely or predominantly within the county to be used for transportation expenses within those jurisdictions.

  The distribution of tax proceeds specifies that 75% benefits county highways, with the remaining 25% available for local municipalities.

• 66.1113

  66.1113 (2) (k) 2. In each fiscal year after the ordinance takes effect, the county may not impose the tax unless it spends or commits to spend at least the same amount of revenue generated by county-levied taxes that are dedicated to highway improvements and maintenance that it spent from that source and for those purposes during the fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the county first imposes the tax authorized under this paragraph.

  La Crosse County must match prior spending on highway improvements before imposing the new tax.

Action History

1. November 16, 2017

   Fiscal estimate received

2. October 27, 2017

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government

3. October 27, 2017

   Introduced by Senator Shilling; cosponsored by Representative Doyle

Sponsors

• Shilling · Primary

Subjects