Will Mayor Tom Taylor and the Common Council Oppose SB 83?

Based upon documents included in aldermen's “meeting packets, especially a prepared Resolution entitled: A Resolution Opposing the Adoption Senate Bill 83 [SB83] Relating to Various Changes to the Eminent Domain Laws, its obvious that the mayor and the common council were prepared to oppose it at the June 21, Common Council Meeting.

Mayor Tom Taylor, Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski appeared panicked at the prospect that SB 83, introduced by State Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), if passed, would take an “economic development tool” away from the City, especially as it relates to Tax increment financing (TIF), an intoxicating government tool that allows municipalities to promote economic development by earmarking property tax revenue from increases in assessed values within a designated TIF district. Proponents point to evidence that assessed property value within TIF districts generally grows much faster than in the rest of the municipality and infer that TIF benefits the entire municipality.  As you might imagine there are contrary views on the benefits of TIF districts, particularly as it relates to economic growth.

TIF districts are typically used as one of the primary means to raise money for the public investment portion of the costs of economic growth or revitalization designated areas of a municipality.  TIF districts are touted by its supporters as being without cost, or good for the entire city, or the only way to get a project started, these arguments make sense only to those who see only the immediate effects of something and are unwilling — or unable — to see the secondary effects of this harmful form of government intervention. 

Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) has long been the common council’s preferred way to create economic growth.  Alderman Tim Solomon seemed especially over wrought in his exchange with Senator Lazich.

Based upon the mayor Taylor’s and aldermen’s questions, one would have to question whether he and Council members have actually read SB 83 and know where the bill currently stands in the Senate. To listen to the June 21 Common Council Meeting click here.

Franklin citizen Timothy Dake, an organizer for Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty spoke in support of SB 83 during citizen comments and also wrote an opinion piece entitled Bill reins in eminent domain abuse published June 20 on JSOnline.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Kelo v. New London: Lawsuit Challenging Eminent Domain Abuse in New London, Connecticut

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