(The Center Square) – If two Senate Republicans change their mind on a $1.8 billion surplus deal, the Wisconsin Senate will meet again and send the proposal on to second-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said on Thursday afternoon that if any two of Sens. Steve Nass, Chris Kapenga and Rob Hutton changed their mind after previously voting against the bill in special session that the Senate would go back into session.
Hutton and LeMahieu are not seeking reelection along with Evers and 14th-year Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
“Fifteen of 18 Senate Republicans supported the plan to provide rebate checks to hardworking families, pass no tax on tips and overtime, cut property taxes, and increase special education funding,” LeMahieu said in a statement. “All 15 Senate Democrats voted against it.
“If two more Senators decide to stand with the 80% of Wisconsinites who support this compromise, the Senate will meet to send the proposal to the governor.”
LeMahieu pointed to a Marquette poll on the bill, which said that 80% of voters supported the $1.8 billion surplus bill that included income tax refund checks, $600 million for schools and an end to taxes on tips and overtime.
The bill included an income tax refund, an end to income tax on overtime and tips and includes $300 million in special education funding along with $300 million in general school aid that would replace property tax funding for the same.
The poll found that 77% of Republicans, 82% of Democrats and 81% of independents supported the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said after the 18-15 vote against the bill on May 13 that she did not support the bill because it would create a $2.9 billion structural deficit heading into the next budget.
“From Day 1 of this legislative session, Senate Democrats have shown by our actions what we are for,” Hesselbein said. “Democrats have introduced bills that would lower costs, reduce property taxes, fund our schools, make health care and medications more affordable. We have proposed legislation to make sure more people can stay in their homes, to support our farmers, to raise wages and improve working conditions.
“We are, and have been, laser-focused on Wisconsin families who are struggling because of the chaos and skyrocketing costs in the Trump economy. And that’s why this reckless proposal was not something we could support. When Democrats are in the majority, we will steer a course to a Wisconsin in which our economy works for all, where schools are sufficiently funded, and health care is affordable and accessible. We will lead from a position of compassion, strength, tolerance, collaboration and fiscal responsibility that brings security to future generations.”
Inflation climbed from 2.4% in February to 3.8% in April. The national unemployment rate is 4.3%; it’s been between 4.1% and 4.5% for 15 months.
The S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones are all hovering around all-time highs. The national jobs report hasn’t shown a loss since February.
Consumer confidence polls have not matched the Wall Street markets, in part because the former is more present day outlook and the latter is future based.

(The Center Square) – Population projections are decreased, and with it the Wisconsin Counties Association’s Housing Outlook says fewer homes will be needed.
In 2023, the association projected the need to build 140,000 new homes by 2030 to keep up with demand. The report released last month says the state needs only 84,000 new homes.
“In late 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Administration released new population projections anchored to the 2020 Census,” the report says. “Those projections tell a more challenging story than the 2023 report. The working-age population is now projected to decline by closer to 200,000, and the senior population is expected to grow more slowly than originally anticipated.
“The prime working-age population, that is those aged 25 to 64, is the broadest measure of Wisconsin’s labor force and the primary driver of housing demand for owner-occupied units. The decline is concentrated among those aged 55-64, the younger half of the baby boom generation, who account for 171,096 of that projected drop. This is the single most significant demographic shift of the decade.”
Wisconsin has a housing availability problem. The state’s Realtors Association has noted not enough homes for sale for years. That lack of availability is one of the reasons why the price of homes continues to increase.
The association report acknowledges the same problem.
“A state that constructs only enough housing for a shrinking workforce is not positioning itself to grow, attract talent, or remain economically competitive through the next decade and beyond,” the authors wrote.
The report, though, strikes a positive tone when looking at whether Wisconsin can build enough homes to remain competitive.
“Lot creation is the furthest upstream measure of housing capacity because permits can only be issued, and homes can only be built, where lots already exist,” the report states. “From 2020 through 2025, there were an average of 5,600 lots created per year, an increase from the 4,600 created per year in the preceding five-year period.”
Those numbers, however, are far below the pre-2008 numbers which averaged over 14,000 lots created per year.
The report says, “The next few years of lot creation and permit data will signal which path Wisconsin is on. Lot creation ticked upward in 2025 to its highest level since 2007, which is encouraging, but still far short of preGreat Recession levels. Permitting has increased in recent years as well, but these incremental increases may not be enough to make up for years of lower construction and underdevelopment.”

(The Center Square) – An outspoken Democratic candidate for governor in Wisconsin has until Sunday to have an affidavit submitted to correct signatures on his nomination papers or he will be removed from the ballot.
Kirk Bangstad, who owns Minocqua Brewing Company, shared on the company’s social media pages that he is being asked to correct the papers. He currently has 1,504 valid signatures with 2,000 required.
Bangstad previously ran for the Wisconsin Assembly in 2020. He gained attention earlier this year for comments related to offering free beer after an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
Bangstad wrote that the nomination papers used Aug. 11, the date of the Democratic primary, as the election date listed on the forms but was required to list the date of the general election.
“The people signing this nomination form will see Bangstad’s name on August 11 as running for governor before they’ll see his name in the general election, so we can’t understand why the election officials would decide that this date would somehow mislead the people signing the nomination forms, which is why they invalidated the signatures,” Bangstad wrote. “Would an experienced campaign staff have known to list the general election as opposed to the primary election? Probably, but we don’t have an experienced campaign staff. We had normal people filling in these forms using normal people logic. We will appeal and there’s a good argument for why we should win.”
Bangstad shared an email from staff at the Wisconsin Elections Commission explaining the issue and that 40 of the 268 pages of nominating papers had all the signatures struck because of issues with the circulator “providing incorrect informations/dates or omitting required information such as their municipality of residence.”
The affidavits need to be corrected and notarized by 5 p.m. on Sunday.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Democrat Francesca Hong, a state representative running for governor, paid off $30,000 with personal funds, according to her campaign.
Hong was sued by Capital One on May 26 and her Campaign Manager Becky Cooper said that Hong will have a letter soon confirming that the debt is paid off in full.
“Like 80% of Americans, Rep. Hong has debt, specifically from business expenses that rose astronomically during the pandemic,” Cooper said. “She leads from a place of knowing the endless struggles with bills and the stress that places on families every day. Her policies will help Wisconsin residents develop greater economic stability and success.”
Hong led the race in a March Marquette Law School poll ahead of former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (11%), Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (3%), Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (3%), businessman Joel Brennan (2%), state Rep. Kelda Roys (1%) and former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes (1%).

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin has seen 15 fatal all-terrain or utility task vehicle accidents so far this year after having 41 last year, the second-highest year on record.
That was only surpassed by 47 in 2021.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources keeps updated records of the fatalities, showing the fatal crashes have jumped from 20 in 2015 to 40 in 2024 and 41 last year.
The DNR will be running a safety campaign from Friday to Sunday with additional patrols on trails and routes with wardens and safety patrols monitoring such as speeding and operating while intoxicated.
“Wisconsin continues to see a rising number of injury and fatal ATV and UTV crashes,” DNR off-highway vehicle administrator Lt. Jacob Holsclaw said in a statement. “We are asking our wardens and law enforcement partners to increase patrols to deter Illegal and unsafe operation and more importantly asking the public to police themselves.”
There were three reported deaths after rollover crashes in May with the deaths of a 23- and 31-year-old in separate ATV rollover crashes on public roads and a 71-year-old dying in a UTV rollover crash on a public trail.

(The Center Square) – One of the Democrats running for governor in Wisconsin is breaking with the current governor and the rest of the pack.
Former WEDC boss Missy Huhes said she would opt Wisconsin into the federal tax credit scholarship program.
“We need to unlock every resource possible for our children and teachers. When politicians failed to get a deal done for Wisconsin schools, that 80% of Wisconsinites supported, students were the ones left behind,” Hughes said in a statement, “Our responsibility is to pursue every available opportunity that can help Wisconsin children succeed.”
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit would allow people to donate up to $1,700 that could then be used for educational scholarships. Donors would geta tax credit, while children, schools, and education groups could get millions of dollars in scholarships.
Those scholarships could go to public, private and choice schools in the state.
Gov. Tony Evers has refused to opt Wisconsin into the program. He says he doesn’t want public money to go to private schools, even though the scholarship money would all come from private donors.
Hughes said she doesn’t want to say no to any money that could help students in Wisconsin.
“After the failure to deliver additional school funding this year, Wisconsinites deserve to know where their leaders stand. I stand with students, parents, and teachers who want every available resource working on behalf of Wisconsin children.” Hughes added.
Republican candidate Tom Tiffany also supports the scholarship program. On Tuesday, he supported Hughes’ call to join.
“Only 31% of Wisconsin fourth-graders are proficient in reading. The federal scholarship program would have expanded tutoring and after-school opportunities for kids,” Tiffany wrote in a post on X. “But @GovEvers said no because of politics. Will any other Democrat candidates for governor support it?”
So far, none of the other Democrat candidates in Wisconsin have said they would opt-in.
Hughes is currently running at the back of the crowded pack of Democrats. The last Marquette Law School Poll showed her with about 1% of the Democrat vote.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s average price for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.08 on Tuesday, down nearly 25 cents from a week before and 30 cents from last month, according to data from GasBuddy.
The prices were up $1.11 from the same time last year.
Wisconsin ranked as the 19th most expensive state. The U.S. average was $4.23.
“National average of $4.25/gal is likely a low point for the next seven days, possibly longer – expecting price cycles/hikes in some states starting today, we could be back above $4.30 to close to $4.35/gal soon as we await new developments in the US/Iran situation,” GasBuddy Head of Petroleum Analysis Patrick DeHaan wrote on Tuesday morning.
He recently also noted that the refinery issues impacting Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois prices are now a thing of the past.
The lowest recorded gas prices in the state were three People’s Express stations at $3.41 in Shawano along with $3.43 at Shawano’s Kwik Trip.

(The Center Square) – Several Republican lawmakers are upset with the University of Wisconsin System’s proposal to increase tuition by 2% a year after a 5% increase.
Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, went as far as saying that a pair of trustees “lied to all our faces” in committee testimony when they said that tuition would not be raised again this soon.
“Unfortunately, students and their families are the ones who will be paying the price for this dishonesty,” Testin said in a statement. “At least we now know that we can no longer take the UW Board of Regents at their word.
“My Joint Finance Committee colleagues and I certainly will not forget this betrayal when the regents and UW officials come begging to us for more money during next year’s state budget deliberations. This is simply unacceptable.”
The 2% increase for resident undergraduate tuition would be effective this fall. The university said in a press release that the increase is below the current inflation rate. The increase also includes a 3.5% increase in segregated fees, which are for student services, activities, programs, and facilities. In all, it would be a 2.5% average increase across tuition, segregated fees and room and board.
“We recognize Wisconsin families are managing rising costs in every part of their lives, and that reality informed this proposal,” Universities of Wisconsin Interim President Renée Wachter said in a statement. “This is a measured increase that helps our universities continue providing strong student support and high-quality academic experiences while keeping a UW education among the most affordable in the Midwest.”
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Gillett, pointed out that, over the past 10 years, the system has added 2,400 non-faculty staff positions while educating 16,000 fewer students.
Wimberger said that, if the system would “eliminate their administrative bloat,” it would free up $750 million.
“UW’s leadership is continuing to pass its payroll expenses onto students and their families, when it should be cutting its massive bureaucracy and reinvesting its funds to create a more valuable student experience,” Wimberger said in a statement. “No amount of money will ever be enough for satisfy these bureaucrats, and the bright students who attend our universities are only left with a worse education.”
Congressman Tom Tiffany, who is a Republican running for governor, said on his campaign account that he would freeze tuition in the UW System if elected.
“The UW System received a $256 million increase in the last state budget,” Tiffany wrote. “Then raised tuition 5% last year and is now proposing another 2% increase for in-state students this year.”

(The Center Square) – There will not be a second vote on Wisconsin’s $1.8 billion tax deal.
Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein told Matt Smith with WISN TV that she has no plans to return to the Capitol and vote again on the tax package.
“If there is something that we can get together and talk about a compromise, we are open to something like that,” Hesselbein said. “But we also want to see where the money is. This is all a projected surplus. So, once we know if the money is going to be there, that’s when we’ll want to come back.”
Wisconsin lawmakers won’t “know” if the money is there until next year.
Hesselbein also said she spoke with Senate Republican Leader Devin LeMahieu and she said he told her there’s “absolutely not” a chance the Senate will vote again.
But it’s Hesselbein’s Democrats – along with three Republicans – who killed the plan. All 15 Senate Democrats voted no on the proposal. She said none have changed their minds.
“I have not heard that,” she added.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Sunday he wants to vote on the plan again. In fact, he said the Assembly is ready to pass it again.
On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers said he would like to see a second vote as well.
The tax package would have combined a tax rebate of up to $600 with property tax relief and the end of taxes on tips and overtime, with a $300 million boost for special education across Wisconsin. In all, the package would have been worth about $1.8 billion.
Wisconsin has a $2-plus billion surplus.

(The Center Square) – Brown County is the latest in Wisconsin to consider a moratorium on approving new data center projects.
Cities and counties across the state have begun to introduce and approve moratoriums as they say they are gathering information on everything from land use to zoning to water and power uses to tax breaks for the ever-growing market of large-scale data centers in the state.
Wrightstown recently approved a non-binding referendum to be placed on the August ballot regarding data centers. This comes after Madison and Manitowoc counties have approved moratoriums and Dane County is considering an 18-month moratorium.
State Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner, D-Green Bay, is encouraging residents to attend the Brown County Board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. on June 17 to voice support for the effort.
“This is not about being against technology or innovation,” Rivera-Wagner said in a statement. “It is about making sure Wisconsin communities have real protections in place before we move forward. I encourage residents to attend, testify, and make their voices heard. I hope the Brown County Board supports this proposal and sends a clear message that Wisconsin communities deserve a seat at the table before decisions of this magnitude are made.”
Wisconsin state lawmakers left the recent session without putting data center guardrails in place after discussion on several bills that would limit data centers or protect ratepayers related to utility costs.
The moratoriums come as Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau shows that the state will forego $1.5 billion in sales tax to four data center projects in initial construction and then $369 million more annually once the projects are completed.
The sales tax exemption was enacted in the 2023-25 budget and applies to everything from property purchases to computer servers and energy systems at the site to electricity and cooling systems.
The exemptions apply to Microsoft’s $20.6 billion in data centers in Wisconsin along with OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers’ $15 billion in data center investments in Port Washington. Epic Hosting’s $347 million project in Verona and Meta’s $1 billion project in Beaver Dam are also included.
Many of the projects are also in tax increment districts that allow the companies to regain additional property taxes from the developments to pay for the projects.

(The Center Square) – A conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice called the courts’ decision to hear a case challenging the state’s congressional maps doing the “bidding of its political masters” rather than a proper decision.
The court sent an order stating that it would hear an appeal of a three-judge panel’s ruling not to hear the case but said that it would not hear the case on a requested expedited schedule.
“The Democratic Party bought multiple seats on this court to achieve yet another outcome unobtainable democratically,” Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in dissent.
Bradley joined Justice Annette Ziegler in dissent against hear the case from the Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy that a three-judge panel dismissed on April 28.
“It is indeed rare that I feel compelled to object to hearing a case,” Ziegler wrote. “But here, I have concluded this is too important to stand silent. The public should be informed of the requests afoot and it should have the opportunity to stay abreast of these proceedings.
“And, of course, the briefing and arguments could cause me to conclude that this appeal was proper and relief should be granted. We shall see.”
The majority of judges took offense at Bradley’s insinuation that the decision to hear the case was politically motivated, calling the dissent “false, inappropriate, and disingenuous charges.”
“Deciding to hear a case does not reflect any weighing of the merits of any party’s claims, let alone prejudgment about who will prevail and why,” Justice Rebecca Dallet wrote. “We do not prejudge cases, and for that reason, we do not comment at this early stage on the parties’ legal theories, or try to develop arguments in favor of one side or another.”
Ziegler wrote that it was “shocking” the case would be reviewed without analysis of the jurisdiction of the case, if there is a proper claim or if there is even a right to appeal the ruling of a three-judge panel. She pointed to four other times that the Wisconsin Supreme Court had determined that the current congressional map would not be reviewed.

(The Center Square) – The top Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly says he’s ready to vote again on the $1.8 billion tax deal that fell short last month.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said on UpFront on Sunday that he wants a second chance to vote on the package.
“I still think we can get it done,” Vos said. “I think we should go back in. I have asked the governor to help us get another attempt at it.”
The tax deal, which packaged over $1 billion in tax rebates and property tax relief with a new law that ended taxes on tips and overtime, in exchange for $300 million more for special education passed the Assembly.
But it died in the State Senate when three Republicans, and every Democrat voted against it.
Vos, who is leaving office at the end of this term, said the Assembly is ready to vote again, but he’s not sure about a vote count in the Senate.
“Senate Democrats, hopefully when they get a look at [the Marquette] poll, and realize we can’t even get people in Wisconsin to agree on what day of the week it is, and if 80% of the people say this deal should have been passed, let’s give them some confidence that government can actually get things done to help real people, in real time.”
Last week’s Marquette Poll said 80% of people in Wisconsin wanted the tax rebates and tax relief that were included in the plan. The poll also said about 70% of those people wanted the tax relief and tax rebates now, as opposed to next year.
“The Assembly will come back in,” Vos said of a potential re-vote. “I reached out to the governor’s office. I have not heard back, I’ll be honest. But let’s put some pressure on these politicians to get it done. Why would we wait until November when most people are suffering now.”
Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, last week said on UpFront that there is a “zero percent” chance that lawmakers will vote on the tax plan again.
Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have also been silent about the chances for a new vote on the plan. They are, instead, focused on what they can do with Wisconsin’s $2 billion-plus surplus next year.
“Senate Democrats remain open to sound and financially sustainable solutions to lower property taxes, invest in public schools, and lower costs for all Wisconsinites,” Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein said in a statement last week. “That’s what we will focus on when we are in the majority in 2027.”

(The Center Square) – The Republican Party of Wisconsin wants the Wisconsin Election Commission to conduct an investigation into how 152 duplicate absentee ballots were mailed out by the city of Green Bay before the April election.
The clerk has stated that no duplicate ballots were returned or counted, so is no need for an investigation, claiming that the law prohibits multiple voting but does not say anything about the multiple issuance of ballots.
The party, however, believes that the issuance of the duplicate ballots was illegal. The investigation request was filed on behalf of Theresa Sipes against City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys in her official capacity.
“The city of Green Bay clerk is attempting to absolve herself of her legal duty in her reply to the original complaint by suggesting no investigations should follow this serious procedural error that enabled over 150 voters to be illegally mailed duplicate absentee ballots,” Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said in a statement. “Laws exist to protect election integrity, and when they are violated, an investigation is warranted to prevent future breaches, ensure accountability, and maintain public confidence that election laws are applied consistently by every official.”
The party said that procedural issues like the double ballots cannot go unaddressed or it would undermine election protections related to absentee ballots.
In her response to an initial filing, Jeffrys wrote that “there was minimal voter confusion, no double voting, and no increased risk of . . . fraud.”
The party argued that Jeffrys claim about issuing multiple ballots not being a violation is incorrect.
“As set forth at length in the Complaint, Wisconsin’s absentee ballot statutes are structured around the fundamental principle that each qualified elector receives one – and only one – ballot per election,” the complaint said.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s congressional delegation has joined Gov. Tony Evers in requesting that the federal government grant the state a Major Disaster Declaration to make it eligible for individual and public assistance after April flooding.
The flooding is estimated to have caused $10 million in residential property damage to 1,500 structures along with $17 million in public infrastructure damage.
The April storms led to flooding that destroyed both homes and businesses. The federal government has denied public assistance to this point and Evers said that the administration has not explained the denial.
A letter was led by Rep. Tony Weid and signed by Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Reps. Bryan Steil, Mark Pocan, Derrick Van Orden, Gwen Moore, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman and Tom Tiffany.
Sen. Ron Johnson was the only member of Wisconsin’s delegation who did not sign.
“Given the magnitude of damage, we urge you to issue a Major Disaster Declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and readily make available the Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation Grants to Wisconsinites in need,” the letter addressed to Trump stated.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency responded swiftly to a prior request and worked with Wisconsin Emergency Management to estimate the damage.
“I’ve visited communities impacted by this spring’s severe weather, and in doing so, I’ve not only seen the devastation and destruction these storms left behind but also the strength and resilience of Wisconsinites across the state,” Evers said in a statement. “I’m grateful Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA’s work identified and confirmed our need for federal assistance so that we can continue to rebuild homes, restore infrastructure, and aid recovery efforts. Federal support is essential to helping communities rebuild and recover, and I’m urging the president to meet this moment with the urgency it requires and ensure affected individuals, families, and businesses receive this critical assistance as quickly as possible.”
Individual assistance is requested for residents in Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties along with the Oneida Nation.
The request includes public assistance for Bayfield, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewanee, Manitowoc, Marathon, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon and Waupaca counties along with the Oneida Nation.

(The Center Square) – Milwaukee Public School managers are moving ahead with their plan to cut jobs at its central office, but the school district has changed its mind about classroom cuts.
Milwaukee’s school board recently approved a new $1.6 billion budget for the next school year.
Originally, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius wanted to cut 260 non-classroom jobs. On Thursday, Cassellius said she’s still planning to make those central office cuts, but her budget now includes hiring hundreds of new paraprofessionals.
Originally, MPS was looking to hire 225 paraprofessionals. Now that number is 574. Cassellius is also looking to hire more children’s health assistants. Originally MPS wanted to add 13 assistants. Now that number is 76.
Cassellius, however, said she doesn’t expect to hire that many people.
“We do think that a number of our current district teachers, who are working at the district office, will go into the classroom and take some of those positions,” Cassellius said.
Milwaukee Schools were facing a $46 million shortfall, and Cassellius said this budget will get them out of that hole.
But Milwaukee’s school budget woes are not over.
Milwaukee, like most other school districts in Wisconsin, are losing students. That, in turn, means less money from state government and more money will have to come from local taxpayers.
MPS’ new budget includes a 2.3% property tax increase. The school district said that would add about $46 to the tax bill for someone who owns a $207,000 home.
The $1.6 billion MPS budget is $23 million larger than the current budget, and continues to make MPS Wisconsin’s largest and most expensive school district.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s Dane County board is considering an 18-month moratorium on what it calls hyperscale data centers including applications, zoning permits or citing in the county that includes the state capital of Madison.
The board said that the resolution was allow for time to look into the complex issues surrounding the projects. The full county board is scheduled to consider the proposal June 4.
The proposal comes after Manitowoc County approved a similar 18-month moratorium in late April.
“There is growing concern that Dane County communities could see project proposals before that work is complete,” Dane County Board Chair Patrick Miles said in a statement. “This moratorium gives the committee the time it needs to finish and gives the county the opportunity to make thoughtful, data-driven policy decisions informed by their findings.”
The city of Madison will host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday related to its own one-year moratorium on data centers.
The moratoriums come as Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau shows that the state will forego $1.5 billion in sales tax to four data center projects in initially construction and then $369 million more annually once the projects are completed.
The sales tax exemption was enacted in the 2023-25 budget and applies to everything from property purchases to computer servers and energy systems at the site to electricity and cooling systems.
The exemptions apply to Microsoft’s $20.6 billion in data centers in Wisconsin along with OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers’ $15 billion in data center investments in Port Washington. Epic Hosting’s $347 million project in Verona and Meta’s $1 billion project in Beaver Dam are also included.
Many of the projects are also in tax increment districts that allow the companies to regain additional property taxes from the developments to pay for the projects.
Economist JC Bradbury wrote Thursday that pushback against data center tax breaks nationwide have come not because data centers are bad or unnecessary but because those pushing the projects have asked for and received special tax treatment.
“Pundits are asking why data centers are so maligned,” Bradbury wrote. “Well, when the transparently bogus economic promises your hired lobbyists made about these big ugly buildings fall flat, in order to obtain rent-seeking spoils, you’re going to get some harsh blowback.
“It’s time for a new data center PR strategy. Come clean and admit you’re just like any other private business. Stop asking for handouts, and people will start treating you like a legitimate industry. Try normal capitalism, not crony capitalism.”