GOP Lawmakers Pass Tax Levy-Freezing Bill

Property owners in Shorewood could see their property tax bills capped permanently if Gov. Scott Walker's 2011-2013 budget bill becomes law.

Authored by Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), the Joint Finance Committee, which Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Vos co-chair, passed a motion today that would prevent property taxes from increasing the next two years and make a 1.5 percent tax increase the standard after that.

Vos says taxpayers can count on this happening.

"Taxpayers can circle this date on their calendars," Vos said in a press release.  "We’re making history by creating a permanent property tax cap.”

The measure passed the Joint Finance Committee along party lines. 

"We’re putting money where our mouth is,” Vos stated.  “We've talked about permanent property tax limits during the last campaign and now we're making it happen so local governments finally will have the fiscal certainty they need."

Darling said during these tough economic times, family needs more certainty.

“Today, we stood up for the property taxpayers by saying ‘no’ to out of control taxing and spending," Darling said.

The property tax cap is part of the biennial budget bill. The full legislature is expected to approve the limit when it comes to the floor in June.

The bill wouldn't allow municipalities like Shorewood to increase the tax levy other than through referendum or development.

Shorewood typically increases the tax levy at least 2 percent to mimic inflation according to Village Manager Chris Swartz.