HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2022 (49) Resolution No. 49 (2022)
T. RO r �, ° ,Q,NTY RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REFERENDUM TO INCREASE TAX LEVY
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
COVER MEMO
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ken Witt, County Administrator
DATE: December 6, 2022
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Authorizing Referendum to Increase Tax Levy for Public Safety
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
St. Croix County Public Safety Referendum
St. Croix County has identified a need for additional public safety personnel.As one of the fastest
growing counties in Wisconsin, our staffing has not kept pace with the demands for service. The
State of Wisconsin limits the amount of property taxes a municipality can collect each year. To
exceed the levy limit, the municipality needs voter approval through a county-wide referendum.
The County Board of Supervisors will consider placing a Public Safety referendum question on the
ballot for April 4, 2023.
This question asks voters of St. Croix County whether or not to support an increase in the county
annual tax levy to cover the costs for:
• Eight Sheriff Deputies
• Four Correction Deputies
• Three Investigators
• Two Pre-Trial Case Managers
• Two Support Staff
• Two Deputy Clerk of Courts
• One CHIPS Attorney
• Two Co-Responders
Why is the County Seeking this Referendum?
Our public safety staff have done an excellentjob of meeting the growing needs of the community
by working smarter, creating efficiencies, collaborating with stakeholders and community
members, utilizing special funding sources, and prioritizing what types of service we provide.
Despite our best efforts, it is increasingly difficult to meet the growing demands for service without
additional personnel.
In 2005, the State of Wisconsin adopted property tax levy restrictions that limited the ability of
local governments to increase their property tax levies annually. Municipalities can raise revenue
if the county net new construction values increase, but only up to that level. Because of the tax
levy restrictions, counties are limited in the amount of money available to provide services we all
count on every day like police protection, road repair and snow removal, just to name a few
amongst the many services provided by the County.
As the population has grown and expectation for services expanded, the County has had to
choose between what the community wants and what the budget provides. After many years of
finding creative ways to bridge the ever-widening gap we have fallen far behind on the demand
for services in public safety.
Growing Public Safety Needs
Since 2006, the County population has grown by 19%. Calls for service to the Sheriff's Office have
increased by 25%. The Sheriff's Office is responding to over 20,000 more calls for service annually
than it had in 2006, while staffing levels have remained stagnant.
Part of the Public Safety plan is for additional support of the District Attorneys Office. The number
of felony cases have increased by 54% since 2006. The additional support staff and addition of an
attorney to handle CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection and/or Services) cases will help the State-
funded attorneys in the District Attorney's Office focus on the increasing complexity of criminal
felony cases.
Resolution No. 49 (2022)
T. RO � �, ° ,Q,NTY RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REFERENDUM TO INCREASE TAX LEVY
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
1 WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin has imposed limits on County property tax levies,
2 pursuant to § Wis. Stat. § 66.0602; and
3
4 WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 66.0602 limits the increase in 2023 (collected in 2024) to a
5 local property tax levy to no more than the greater o£ (a) 0% of last year's actual levy, or (b) a
6 percentage equal to the percentage change in equalized value due to new construction less
7 improvements removed, which for St. Croix County is estimated at 2%; and
8
9 WHEREAS, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors believes it is in the County's
10 best interest to give the voters of St. Croix County the choice to exceed the state levy limits as
11 described above by a greater percentage than allowable under statutory levy limits, for the
12 purpose of funding St. Croix County public safety; and
13
14 WHEREAS, St. Croix County's actual levy in 2022 (collected in 2023) was $43,683,274
15 and state law would limit the increase to an estimated$635,885 for a total allowable 2023
16 (collected in 2024) County tax levy of$44,319,159; and
17
18 WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 59.52(25) authorizes the County Board of Supervisors to
19 conduct a countywide referendum; and
20
21 WHEREAS, a countywide referendum on the issue of an increased property tax levy to
22 fund St. Croix County public safety would provide guidance as to the will of the St. Croix
23 County electorate.
24
25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Croix County Board of
26 Supervisors that this Board supports a referendum be added to the April 4, 2023 ballot to
27 increase the County tax levy for 2023 (collected in 2024) to exceed the state levy limits.
28
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Board intends that the levy increase be
30 applied on an ongoing basis by including it in the base used to calculate the limit for the 2025
31 budget as well.
32
33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the purpose for which the increased levy will be
34 used is to fund St. Croix County public safety.
35
36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Board directs that the question of
37 increasing the allowable County Tax Levy for 2023 (collected in 2024)by 7.98%, which would
38 increase the County tax levy by $3,536,507 over the past year's levy, for an estimated County
39 tax levy of$47,855,666, the increase to be used for funding St. Croix County public safety, shall
40 be submitted to the electors in a referendum held on April 4, 2023.
41
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk is authorized to make
43 arrangements to conduct a countywide referendum to be held in conjunction with the April 2023
44 general election.
45
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the question on the ballot shall read as follows:
47
48 Question: Under state law, the increase in the levy for St. Croix County for the tax to be imposed
49 for the next fiscal year, 2024, is limited to 2%, based on St. Croix County's best estimate, which
50 results in a levy of$44,319,159. Shall St. Croix County be allowed to exceed this limit and
51 increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2024,for the purpose of Public Safety, by a total of
52 7.98%, which results in a levy of$47,855,666, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of
53 $3,536,507 each fiscal year going forward?
54
55 YES
56 NO
57
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Corporation Counsel is directed to prepare a
59 Notice of Referendum, including the date of the referendum, the entire text of the question, as
60 well as an explanatory statement of the effect of either a yes or no vote.
Le—gal—Fiscal—Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: Fiscal impact would be to the levy for 2024.
�d ,��JA--A M , 0 MA--A
Heat er mos,Corporation Counsel 11/17/2022
JA I, a/ cy
L n on, Finance Dir or 1/17/2022
Kc udmin r 11/17/2022
12/01/22 Public Protection &Judiciary Committee APPROVED
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
SECONDER: Mark Carlson, Supervisor
AYES: Leaf, Adams, Feidler, Carlson, Ramberg
Vote Confirmation.
.44
Bob F.eidler PPJ Chair 12/1/2022
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call -Vote Requirement—Majority of Supervisors Present
...............
RESULT: ADOPTED [17 TO 0]
AYES: Lind, Anderson, Long, Leaf, Adams, Ottino, Feidler, Ostness, Counter, Hansen,
Sherley, Tellijohn, Carlson, Barcalow, Swanepoel, VanSomeren, Ramberg
ABSTAIN: Paul Berning
EXCUSED: Carah Koch
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2022
Christine Hines, County Clerk