Additional aids and credits, as contemplated by SJR 24, will only lead to increased spending and taxes. Will lead to special interest property tax relief. SJR 24 would allow the legislature to discriminate in the distribution of property tax relief on the basis of property value, personal income, property location, type of property, etc. As a result, while some property taxpayers may see relief, others will see substantially higher taxes. The constitution currently guarantees every property taxpayer the right to share uniformly in property tax relief, and that is the way it should remain.
Voters see potential for mischief.
An almost identical constitutional amendment was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters in 1989 and 1992. The potential for such a constitutional amendment to allow mischief in the delivery of special interest property tax relief is well understood by Wisconsin taxpayers. When Wisconsin was established in 1848, our political leaders understood that discriminatory property taxation and property tax relief was inherently unfair and inappropriate. We have benefited from their wisdom and foresight for more than 150 years. SJR 24 would eliminate this important taxpayer protection, and further undermine public confidence in our tax system and government in general.