(The Center Square) – There is a new tax relief offer at the Wisconsin Capitol.
The state’s two Republican leaders, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, on Monday sent a letter to Gov. Tony Evers with a new offer for both income tax and property tax relief.
“This is a generous, good-faith attempt to achieve our mutual goals of limiting the property tax impact caused by your misguided 400-year veto, helping families address rising costs, and ultimately doing what is best for the people of Wisconsin,” the two wrote.
The plan offers $500 in money for the state’s school tax levy credit. Vos and LeMahieu say that money will offset local property taxes.
The Republican leaders are also proposing $1.5 billion in income tax rebates. Married people in Wisconsin would get a $1,000 check, while single tax filers would get $500.
There is also $200 million included for special education funding, $30 million for people and businesses who saw damage during last summer’s flooding, and a few million dollars more for teachers who buy their own classroom supplies.
“While we know you believe that your 400-year veto was a way to permanently send increases to schools for the next 400 years, the truth is it creates a strong disincentive for school districts to find efficiencies while creating an increased property tax burden on taxpayers,” Vos and LeMahieu added.
The Republican proposal does not include the $450 million in general state aid that Evers has insisted be included in any tax deal. It also doesn’t touch on the governor’s 400-year veto, which is blamed for skyrocketing property taxes across the state.
Instead of sending more money to schools for the next 399-years, Vos and LeMahieu said Wisconsin schools need an overhaul.
“No amount of funding increase can address the root causes of the education funding problem,” they wrote. “Reform, not guaranteed funding to prop up a broken system.”
The Republican offer comes as Evers will deliver his final State of the State tonight at 7 p.m.
