70.114 Aids on certain state lands equivalent to property taxes.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Department" means the department of natural resources.

(b)

1. For land purchased before July 1 2011, “estimated value," for the year during which land is purchased, means the purchase price and, for later years, means the value that was used for calculating the aid payment under this section for the prior year increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property to the next preceding determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property.

2. For land purchased on or after July 1, 2011, “estimated value," for the year during which land is purchased, means the lesser of the purchase price or the determination of the land's equalized valuation under s. 70.57 in the year before the year during which the land is purchased, increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property, except that if the land was exempt from taxation in the year prior to the year during which the Department purchased the land, or enrolled in the forest cropland program under subch. I of ch. 77 or the managed forest land program under subch. VI of ch. 77 at the time of purchase, “estimated value," for the year during which the land is purchased means the lesser of the purchase price or an amount that would result in a payment under sub. (4) that is equal to $10 per acre. “Estimated value," for later years, means the value that was used for calculating the aid payment under this section for the prior year increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property to the next preceding determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property.

(c) “Land" means state forests, as defined in s. 28.02 (1), that are acquired after December 31, 1991, state parks that are acquired after December 31, 1991, under s. 27.01 and other areas that are acquired after December 31, 1991, under s. 23.09 (2) (d), 23.091, 23.27, 23.29, 23.293, 23.31 or 29.749 (1).

(d) “Purchase price" means the amount paid by the department for a fee simple interest in real property. “Purchase price" does not include administrative costs incurred by the department to acquire the land, such as legal fees, appraisal costs or recording fees. If real estate is transferred to the department by gift or is sold to the department for an amount that is less than the estimated fair market value of the property as shown on the property tax bill prepared for the prior year under s. 74.09, “purchase price" means an amount equal to the estimated fair market value of the property as shown on that tax bill. If the real estate is exempt from taxation at the time that it is transferred or sold to the department and if the property was not sold at an arm's-length sale, “purchase price" means the fair market value of the real estate at the time that the department takes title to it.

(e) “Taxation district" means a city, village or town, except that if a city or village lies in more than one county, the portions of that city or village that lie within each county are separate taxation districts.

(f) “Taxing jurisdiction" means any entity, not including the state, authorized by law to levy taxes on general property, as defined in s. 70.02, that are measured by the property's value.

(2) Application. For all land acquired after December 31, 1991, the department shall pay aids in lieu of taxes under this section and not under s. 70.113.

(3) Ascertaining rate. Each year, the department shall ascertain the aggregate net general property tax rate for taxation districts to which aids are paid under this section.

(4) Payment required.

(a) Except as provided under par. (c), on or before January 31, the department shall pay to each treasurer of a taxation district, with respect to each parcel of land acquired by the department within the taxation district on or before January 1 of the preceding year, an amount determined by multiplying each parcel's estimated value equated to the average level of assessment in the taxation district by the aggregate net general property tax rate that would apply to the parcel of land if it were taxable, as shown on property tax bills prepared for that year under s. 74.09.

(b) On or before February 15, the taxation district treasurer shall pay to the treasurer of each taxing jurisdiction, from the amount received under par. (a), the taxing jurisdiction's proportionate share of the tax that would be levied on the parcel if it were taxable.

(c) The department shall withhold from the payment amount determined under par. (a) the state's proportionate share of the tax that would be levied on the parcel if it were taxable and shall deposit that amount into the conservation fund.

History: 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 248; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.