Madison, WI – Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha), along with several other joint authors, sent a budget motion to the Joint Finance Committee that would require the state government to pay municipalities 100% of the agreed upon costs to provide police, fire, and waste services to state buildings.
“We as a state should fulfill our statutory commitment with municipalities,” said Rep. Allen. “It is not right to require municipalities to provide service to the state and not reimburse them.”
The Municipal Services Payments Program was created to aid in the reduction of local real property taxes by having the state pay the cost of municipality-provided services (fire, police, and trash/recycling) for state owned buildings. Under WI statute 70.119, the Legislature is meant to fund a specific appropriation for this purpose that will cover the agreed upon costs.
In 1980, state government provided 100% of the agreed upon costs, but since 1982, the state has underfunded this program and paid a proportionate rate. The rate is now only 37% in 2024. The budget motion would change the statutory language to require the state to pay 100% of the agreed upon costs for services each year.
“I would like to thank Representatives Armstrong, Gundrum, Maxey, Moses, O’Connor, and Swearingen for signing on as co-sponsors of this budget motion,” stated Rep. Allen. “Our first priority in budget spending must be to meet our obligations. That is responsible budgeting.”
Municipalities across Wisconsin would see a roughly $31 million per year increase in payments under the budget motion.
