Debating Real Estate Transfer Fee
Sen. Decker said deleting the governor's provision would "blow a massive hole" in the entire budget.
Rep. Pocan, who believe it or not used to work for the Wisconsin Realtors Association, drew on his experience with the realty group to say that increasing the fee would not impact the affordability of the housing market.
The WRA is opposed to raising the fee, and is backing a group running television commercials against the "home tax."
Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said she wouldn't support the fee increase, and she is alarmed by the amount of spending and new fees in the budget. She said the services the real estate transfer fee funds are core government services, and should be paid for by GPR.
"We should not look at the real estate market as a way to bail out the courts," she said.
Rep. Vos agreed, saying the real estate market is a "very unstable funding source," and collections over the years have fluctuated greatly.
Rep. Suder said the governor's proposal is giving property owners "nightmares" and would hit middle class and lower income families the hardest. "The tax, any way you cut it, is regressive," he said.
Rep. Colon said like the Republicans earlier proposal on levy limits, their idea to delete this fee increase "defies reality."
"People want the courts off their property taxes. This will pay for it," he said. "We need solutions. We have enough rhetoric ... you have to put a solution on the table."
