Bipartisan initiative seeks to expand property tax relief for veterans
More disabled veterans would become eligible for property tax relief under bipartisan legislation introduced yesterday by two state lawmakers. Today, Governor Tony Evers’ office announced that this initiative would be included in his 2023-‘25 state budget proposal.
SenatorAndréJacque(R-DePere)andRepresentative James Edming (R-Glen Flora) said they appreciated the Governor joining their bipartisan effort, which began during the 2017-’18 legislative session, to help more disabled Wisconsin veterans and their spouses remain in their homes.
“When they deployed, our veterans wrote out a blank check with their lives to defend our way of life, and we will never be able to fully repay them,” Senator Jacque said. “This initiative is a common sense way to better meet our ongoing commitment to those who have sacrificed and suffered hardship for our freedom, and I’m glad to have Governor Evers on board.”
The legislation has enjoyed strong bipartisan cosponsorship and support, passing legislative committees in both chambers unanimously in prior sessions, including last session, through the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means as Assembly Bill (AB) 245. The lawmakers reintroduced the measure yesterday with the strong support of Wisconsin’s veterans groups and said they look forward to more of our state’s deserving disabled veterans receiving this property tax relief.
“As I’ve traveled around my district over the past few years, one of the top concerns I’ve heard from veterans and veterans organizations is the need to increase the eligibility for this property tax credit,” Representative Edming said. “From my conversations with colleagues in the legislature and statewide veterans organizations, I’ve learned that this issue is a priority for veterans statewide. By expanding the eligibility for this tax credit we are providing needed property tax relief to relieve that burden on more of our disabled veterans and keep them in their homes.”
Currently, a veteran’s service-connected disability rating must be 100% in order to qualify for this credit. Under the Jacque-Edming proposal, veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% and above would now qualify. The maximum credit that an eligible person could claim is multiplied by the percentage of that person’s service-connected disability rating. For example, an eligible veteran with a 70% disability rating may claim a 70% property tax credit.
