Republican Cable Bill Will Raise Property Taxes

Lost in the cable television discussion is the hidden property tax hike found in AB 207, the bill already passed by the Republican-dominated Wisconsin Assembly.  It contains a tax hike that is estimated to be as much as $2 million state- wide.

That is $2 million in property tax increases at the local level and/or a corresponding reduction in services.

Most municipalities in Wisconsin fund about 40 to 60% of their operations from the property tax. The additional revenues needed to operate the local budget comes from fees, fines and forfeitures, some shared revenue from the state, and a few other limited sources.

One of those sources is the franchise fee paid to cities by cable operators to use the public right of way.  Most cities that issue franchise permits to Charter or Time-Warner use part of that money to fund local cable TV programming and the remainder to run the city, town, or village.

The public right of way belongs to the people and it is not unreasonable for the public to be compensated.  After all, if Ralph wanted to operate his car dealership in the public right of way, we would expect him to pay some kind of rent. Or if Regina wanted to set up her real estate office in the right of way, it is reasonable to charge her, and to periodically review the terms and conditions of the lease as conditions change over time.

The sponsors of AB 207 want to change this system, which has been in place in Wisconsin since the 1950s, and give cable companies and AT&T franchise rights in perpetuity.  The bill also reduces in several significant ways (eliminating PEG fees and construction permit fees, for example) the rent to use the public right of way; thus the hidden property tax hike.

Foul.

Comments

[Stop Lying Paul]

"Republican" Cable Bill? That's just a flat-out lie. The bill you reference is authored in the Senate by Senator Jeff Plale (a Democrat) and was supported by 14 Democrats (including Madison's Dave Travis) when it was approved by the Assembly 66-28. Two other Democrats were not present for the vote but indicated they would have voted for the bill if it passed.

I suppose lying is your only resort when you've lost the rhetorical war on every front, but you should be better than this. How sad that you don't want to have an honest debate on an important issue.

[goofticket]

Go read the bills- you can only get by the first name....typical.
It's co-authored and co-sponsored. 4 Dems and 4 GOpee'rs.

How it this a Dem bill then? Or are Wisconsin GOP Senators not part of the government?
Are they a new Cheney fourth branch?
Lasee is a Dem?

SB 107
March 21, 2007 − Introduced by Senators PLALE, WIRCH, KANAVAS, HANSEN, SCHULTZ,
A. LASEE, DARLING and LEIBHAM, cosponsored by Representatives
THAT'S 5 REPUBLICANS AND 5 DEMOCRATS!
MONTGOMERY, PETERSEN, ZEPNICK, SHERIDAN, LOTHIAN, KLEEFISCH, KRAMER, VOS,
FIELDS, SINICKI, MASON, VUKMIR, VAN ROY, KESTELL, BIES, ALBERS, A. OTT,
NEWCOMER, BOYLE, NYGREN, F. LASEE, MOULTON, WOOD, KERKMAN, TOWNSEND,
NERISON, HUEBSCH, FRISKE, HONADEL, MURTHA, SUDER, LEMAHIEU, PRIDEMORE,
RHOADES and DAVIS

[John Foust]

I parked my butt in the March 27 public hearing for seven hours. Montgomery ran the show. Yes, Plale sat there smiling. Even at the part where Montgomery said "I want this to be called 'Phil's Bill'."