HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2024 (01)
Resolution No. 1 (2024)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REFERENDUM TO INCREASE TAX LEVY
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS
COVER MEMO
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ken Witt, County Administrator
DATE: January 2, 2024
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Authorizing Referendum to Increase Tax Levy for Public Safety
Positions
______________________________________________________________________________
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, the County's staffing has not kept pace with the demands
for service. After an unsuccessful referendum in 2023, the County Board prioritized the County's
limited resources and filled as many of the public safety positions as possible. The State of
Wisconsin continues to limit the amount of property taxes a municipality can collect each year,
but provides for a process to exceed the levy limit. To exceed the levy limit, the municipality
needs voter approval through a county-wide referendum. The County Board of Supervisors will
consider placing another, paired down Public Safety referendum question on the ballot for April
2, 2024.
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 additional public safety personnel:
Two Correction Deputies
One Sheriff's Office Investigator
One District Attorney Investigator, half-time
One Youth Justice Early Intervention Specialist
One Deputy Clerk of Court
Two Mental Health Co-Responders
Resolution No. 1 (2024)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REFERENDUM TO INCREASE TAX LEVY
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS
1 WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin has imposed limits on County property tax levies
2 under Wis. Stat. § 66.0602; and
3
4 WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 66.0602 limits the increase in 2024 (collected in 2025) to a
5 local property tax levy to no more than the greater of: (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 2023 (collected in 2024) was $45,100,429
15 and state law would limit the increase to an estimated $902,009 for a total allowable 2024
16 (collected in 2025) County tax levy of $46,002,438; 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 2, 2024 ballot to
27 increase the County tax levy for 2024 (collected in 2025) 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 2026
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 2024 (collected in 2025) by 1.96%, which would
38 increase the County tax levy by $896,000 over the past year’s levy, for an estimated County tax
39 levy of $46,898,438, the increase to be used for funding St. Croix County public safety, shall be
40 submitted to the electors in a referendum held on April 2, 2024.
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 2024
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 $46,002,438. Shall St. Croix County be allowed to exceed this limit and
51 increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025, for the purpose of hiring two mental health co-
52 responders, one youth justice early intervention specialist, two sheriff corrections deputies, one
53 sheriff investigator, one district attorney investigator, and one deputy clerk of court; to address
54 the County's most pressing public safety needs, by a total of 1.96%, which results in a levy of
55 $46,898,438, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $896,000 each fiscal year going
56 forward?
57
58 YES
59 NO
60
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Corporation Counsel is directed to prepare a
62 Notice of Referendum, including the date of the referendum, the entire text of the question, as
63 well as an explanatory statement of the effect of either a yes or no vote.
Legal – Fiscal – Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: Fiscal impact would be to the levy for 2024.
12/7/23 Adopted
12/07/23 Public Protection & Judiciary Committee APPROVED
RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] Next: 1/2/2024 5:00 PM
MOVER: Mark Carlson, Supervisor
SECONDER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
AYES: Leaf, Adams, Feidler, Carlson, Ramberg
Vote Confirmation.
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call - Vote Requirement – Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ADOPTED \[12 TO 5\]
MOVER: Bob Feidler, Vice-Chair
SECONDER: Daniel Hansen, Supervisor
AYES: Long, Leaf, Koch, Adams, Feidler, Ostness, Counter, Hansen, Tellijohn, Carlson,
Swanepoel, Ramberg
NAYS: Lind, Berning, Ottino, Sherley, Barcalow
ABSTAIN: Shawn Anderson
EXCUSED: Jerry VanSomeren
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on January 2, 2024
Christine Hines, County Clerk