Wis. Stat. § 66.0602 — WI Code / Chapter 66 / Section 66.0602
Local levy limits.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Debt service” includes debt service on debt issued or reissued to fund or refund outstanding municipal or county obligations, interest on outstanding municipal or county obligations, and related issuance costs and redemption premiums.

(ak) “Joint emergency medical services district” means a joint emergency medical services district organized by any combination of 2 or more cities, villages, or towns under s. 66.0301 (2) .

(am) “Joint fire department” means a joint fire department organized under s. 61.65 (2) (a) 3. or 62.13 (1m) , or a joint fire department organized by any combination of 2 or more cities, villages, or towns under s. 66.0301 (2) .

(au) “Municipality” means a city, village, or town.

(b) “Penalized excess” means the levy, in an amount that is at least $500 over the limit under sub. (2) for the political subdivision, not including any amount that is excepted from the limit under subs. (3) , (4) , and (5) .

(c) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.

(cm) “Tax incremental base” has the meaning given in s. 66.1105 (2) (j) .

(d) “Valuation factor” means a percentage equal to the greater of either the percentage change in the political subdivision’s January 1 equalized value due to new construction less improvements removed between the previous year and the current or 0 percent. For a tax incremental district created after December 31, 2024, and for Tax Incremental District Number 10 created by the common council of the city of Evansville, and for Tax Incremental District Number 14 created by the common council of the city of Stevens Point, the valuation factor includes 90 percent of the equalized value increase due to new construction that is located in a tax incremental district, but does not include any improvements removed in a tax incremental district.

(e) “Value increment” has the meaning given in s. 66.1105 (2) (m) .

(2) Levy limit.

(a) Except as provided in subs. (3) , (4) , and (5) , no political subdivision may increase its levy in any year by a percentage that exceeds the political subdivision’s valuation factor. Except as provided in par. (b) , the base amount in any year, to which the limit under this section applies, shall be the actual levy for the immediately preceding year. In determining its levy in any year, a city, village, or town shall subtract any tax increment that is calculated under s. 59.57 (3) (a) , 60.85 (1) (L) , or 66.1105 (2) (i) . The base amount in any year, to which the limit under this section applies, may not include any amount to which sub. (3) (e) 8. applies.

(b) For purposes of par. (a) , in 2018, and in each year thereafter, the base amount to which the limit under this section applies is the actual levy for the immediately preceding year, plus the amount of the payments under ss. 79.096 and 79.0965 , and the levy limit is the base amount multiplied by the valuation factor, minus the amount of the payments under ss. 79.096 and 79.0965 , except that the adjustments for payments received under s. 79.096 or 79.0965 do not apply to payments received under s. 79.096 (3) or 79.0965 (3) for a tax incremental district that has been terminated.

(2m) Negative adjustment.

(a) If a political subdivision’s levy for the payment of any general obligation debt service, including debt service on debt issued or reissued to fund or refund outstanding obligations of the political subdivision and interest on outstanding obligations of the political subdivision, on debt originally issued before July 1, 2005, is less in the current year than it was in the previous year, the political subdivision shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by an amount equal to the amount that its levy was reduced as described in this subsection.

(b)

1. In this paragraph, “covered service” means garbage collection, fire protection, snow plowing, street sweeping, or storm water management, except that garbage collection may not be a covered service for any political subdivision that owned and operated a landfill on January 1, 2013. With regard to fire protection, “covered service” does not include the production, storage, transmission, sale and delivery, or furnishing of water for public fire protection purposes.

2. Except as provided in subd. 4. , if a political subdivision receives revenues that are designated to pay for a covered service that was funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by an amount equal to the estimated amount of fee revenue collected for providing the covered service, less any previous reductions made under this subdivision, not to exceed the amount funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision.

3. Except as provided in subd. 4. , if a political subdivision receives payments in lieu of taxes that are designated to pay for a covered service that was funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by the estimated amount of payments in lieu of taxes received by the political subdivision to pay for the covered service, less any previous reductions made under this subdivision, not to exceed the amount funded in 2013 by the levy of the political subdivision.

4. The requirement under subd. 2. or 3. does not apply if the governing body of the political subdivision adopts a resolution that the levy limit should not be reduced and if the resolution is approved in a referendum. The procedure under sub. (4) applies to a referendum under this subdivision, except that the resolution and referendum question need not specify an amount of increase in the levy limit or the length of time for which the levy limit increase will apply.

(c) A political subdivision that acts under s. 66.1113 (2) (k) to impose a tax under ss. 66.1113 (2) and 77.994 shall reduce its levy limit in the current year by an amount equal to 50 percent of the proceeds of that tax in the previous year, less any previous reductions made under this paragraph.

(3) Exceptions.

(a) If a political subdivision transfers to another governmental unit responsibility for providing any service that the political subdivision provided in the preceding year, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section to the political subdivision in the current year is decreased to reflect the cost that the political subdivision would have incurred to provide that service, as determined by the department of revenue. The levy increase limit adjustment under this paragraph applies only if the transferor and transferee file a notice of service transfer with the department of revenue.

(b) If a political subdivision increases the services that it provides by adding responsibility for providing a service transferred to it from another governmental unit that provided the service in the preceding year, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section to the political subdivision in the current year is increased to reflect the cost of that service, as determined by the department of revenue. The levy increase limit adjustment under this paragraph applies only if the transferor and transferee file a notice of service transfer with the department of revenue.

(c) If a city or village annexes territory from a town, the city’s or village’s levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section is increased in the current year by an amount equal to the town levy on the annexed territory in the preceding year and the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section in the current year for the town from which the territory is annexed is decreased by that same amount, as determined by the department of revenue.

(d)

1. If the amount of debt service for a political subdivision in the preceding year is less than the amount of debt service needed in the current year, as a result of the political subdivision adopting a resolution before July 1, 2005, authorizing the issuance of debt, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section to the political subdivision in the current year is increased by the difference between these 2 amounts, as determined by the department of revenue.

2. The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to amounts levied by a political subdivision for the payment of any general obligation debt service, including debt service on debt issued or reissued to fund or refund outstanding obligations of the political subdivision, interest on outstanding obligations of the political subdivision, or the payment of related issuance costs or redemption premiums, authorized on or after July 1, 2005, and secured by the full faith and credit of the political subdivision.

3. The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to amounts levied by a county having a population of 750,000 or more for the payment of debt service on appropriation bonds issued under s. 59.85 , including debt service on appropriation bonds issued to fund or refund outstanding appropriation bonds of the county, to pay related issuance costs or redemption premiums, or to make payments with respect to agreements or ancillary arrangements authorized under s. 59.86 .

4. If the amount of a lease payment related to a lease revenue bond for a political subdivision in the preceding year is less than the amount of the lease payment needed in the current year, as a result of the issuance of a lease revenue bond before July 1, 2005, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section to the political subdivision in the current year is increased by the difference between these 2 amounts.

5. The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to amounts levied by a 1st class city for the payment of debt service on appropriation bonds issued under s. 62.62 , including debt service on appropriation bonds issued to fund or refund outstanding appropriation bonds of the city, to pay related issuance costs or redemption premiums, or to make payments with respect to agreements or ancillary arrangements authorized under s. 62.621 .

6. The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to the amount that a political subdivision levies to make up any revenue shortfall for the debt service on a special assessment B bond issued under s. 66.0713 (4) .

(dm) For a tax incremental district created before January 1, 2025, if the department of revenue does not certify a value increment for a tax incremental district for the current year as a result of the district’s termination, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section in the current year to the political subdivision in which the district is located is increased by an amount equal to the political subdivision’s maximum allowable levy for the immediately preceding year, multiplied by a percentage equal to 50 percent of the amount determined by dividing the value increment of the terminated tax incremental district, calculated for the previous year, by the political subdivision’s equalized value, exclusive of any tax incremental district value increments, for the previous year, all as determined by the department of revenue.

(dq)

1. For a tax incremental district created after December 31, 2024, and for Tax Incremental District Number 10 created by the common council of the city of Evansville, and for Tax Incremental District Number 14 created by the common council of the city of Stevens Point, if the department of revenue does not certify a value increment for the tax incremental district for the current year as a result of the district’s termination, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section in the current year to the political subdivision in which the district is located is increased by all of the following amounts:

a. An amount equal to the political subdivision’s maximum allowable levy for the immediately preceding year, multiplied by the amount determined by dividing 10 percent of the equalized value increase of the terminated tax incremental district, calculated as provided in subd. 2. , by the political subdivision’s equalized value, less any tax incremental district value increments, for the previous year, all as determined by the department of revenue.

b. If the life span of the tax incremental district was 75 percent or less of the length of the expected life span of the tax incremental district, measured as the period between the year the tax incremental district was created and the expected year of termination, as designated under s. 66.1105 (4m) (b) 2m. , an additional amount equal to the political subdivision’s maximum allowable levy for the immediately preceding year, multiplied by the amount determined by dividing 15 percent of the equalized value increase of the terminated tax incremental district, calculated as provided in subd. 2. , by the political subdivision’s equalized value, less any tax incremental district value increments, for the previous year, all as determined by the department of revenue.

2. The equalized value increase under subd. 1. and par. (dv) is calculated by adding the annual amounts reported under s. 66.1105 (6m) (c) 8. of the value of new construction in the district for each year that the district is active.

(ds) For a tax incremental district created before January 1, 2025, if the department of revenue recertifies the tax incremental base of a tax incremental district as a result of the district’s subtraction of territory under s. 66.1105 (4) (h) 2. , the levy limit otherwise applicable under this section shall be adjusted in the first levy year in which the subtracted territory is not part of the value increment. In that year, the political subdivision in which the district is located shall increase the levy limit otherwise applicable by an amount equal to the political subdivision’s maximum allowable levy for the immediately preceding year, multiplied by a percentage equal to 50 percent of the amount determined by dividing the value increment of the tax incremental district’s territory that was subtracted, calculated for the previous year, by the political subdivision’s equalized value, exclusive of any tax incremental district value increments, for the previous year, all as determined by the department of revenue.

(dv) For a tax incremental district created after December 31, 2024, and for Tax Incremental District Number 10 created by the common council of the city of Evansville, and for Tax Incremental District Number 14 created by the common council of the city of Stevens Point, if the department of revenue recertifies the tax incremental base of a tax incremental district as a result of the district’s subtraction of territory under s. 66.1105 (4) (h) 2. , the levy limit otherwise applicable under this section shall be adjusted in the first levy year in which the subtracted territory is not part of the value increment. In that year, the political subdivision in which the district is located shall increase the levy limit otherwise applicable by an amount equal to the political subdivision’s maximum allowable levy for the immediately preceding year, multiplied by a percentage equal to 10 percent of the amount determined by dividing the equalized value increase, calculated as provided in par. (dq) 2. , attributable to the territory that was subtracted, calculated for the previous year, by the political subdivision’s equalized value, exclusive of any tax incremental district value increments, for the previous year, all as determined by the department of revenue.

(e) The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to any of the following:

1. The amount that a county levies in that year for a county children with disabilities education board.

2. The amount that a 1st class city levies in that year for school purposes.

3. The amount that a county levies in that year under s. 82.08 (2) for bridge and culvert construction and repair.

4. The amount that a county levies in that year to make payments to public libraries under s. 43.12 .

5. The amount that a political subdivision levies in that year to make up any revenue shortfall for the debt service on a revenue bond issued under s. 66.0621 by the political subdivision or by a joint fire department if the joint fire department uses the proceeds of the bond to pay for a fire station and assesses the political subdivision for its share of that debt, under an agreement entered into under s. 66.0301 , which is incurred by the joint fire department but is the responsibility of the political subdivision.

6. The amount that a county levies in that year for a countywide emergency medical system.

7. The amount that a village levies in that year for police protection services, but this subdivision applies only to a village’s levy for the year immediately after the year in which the village changes from town status and incorporates as a village, and only if the town did not have a police force.

8. The amount that a political subdivision levies in that year to pay the unreimbursed expenses related to an emergency declared under s. 323.10 , including any amounts levied in that year to replenish cash reserves that were used to pay any unreimbursed expenses related to that emergency. A levy under this subdivision that relates to a particular emergency initially shall be imposed in the year in which the emergency is declared or in the following year.

9. The political subdivision’s share of any refund or rescission determined by the department of revenue and certified under s. 74.41 (5) .

(f)

1. Subject to subd. 3. , and unless a political subdivision makes an adjustment under par. (fm) , if a political subdivision’s allowable levy under this section in the prior year was greater than its actual levy in that year, the levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section to the political subdivision in the next succeeding year is increased by the difference between the prior year’s allowable levy and the prior year’s actual levy, as determined by the department of revenue, up to a maximum increase of 1.5 percent of the actual levy in that prior year.

3. The adjustment described in subd. 1. may occur only if the political subdivision’s governing body approves of the adjustment by one of the following methods:

a. With regard to a city, village, or county, if the governing body consists of at least 5 members, by a majority vote of the governing body if the increase is 0.5 percent or less and by a three-quarters majority vote of the governing body if the increase is more than 0.5 percent, up to a maximum increase of 1.5 percent.

b. With regard to a city, village, or county, if the governing body consists of fewer than 5 members, by a majority vote of the governing body if the increase is 0.5 percent or less and by a two-thirds majority vote of the governing body if the increase is more than 0.5 percent, up to a maximum increase of 1.5 percent.

c. With a regard to a town, by a majority vote of the annual town meeting, or a special town meeting, if the town board has adopted a resolution approving of the adjustment by a majority vote of the town board if the increase is 0.5 percent or less and by a two-thirds majority vote of the town board if the increase is more than 0.5 percent, up to a maximum increase of 1.5 percent.

(fm)

1. Subject to subds. 3. and 4. , a political subdivision’s levy increase limit otherwise applicable under this section may be increased by any amount up to the maximum adjustment specified under subd. 2.

2. The maximum adjustment allowed under subd. 1. shall be calculated by adding the difference between the political subdivision’s valuation factor in the previous year and the actual percent increase in a political subdivision’s levy attributable to the political subdivision’s valuation factor in the previous year, for the 5 years before the current year, less any amount claimed under subd. 1. in one of the 5 preceding years, except that the calculation may not include any year before 2014, and the maximum adjustment as calculated under this subdivision may not exceed 5 percent.