Oppose Handouts to Developers

I urge you to oppose Assembly Bill 609, the so-called “workforce housing” legislation. While generating more workforce housing is a worthwhile goal, this legislation could end up worsening matters by making home ownership less affordable for many across our state.

AB 609 would create a new, shadow Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) program, called the Local Housing Investment Fund. Property taxpayers outside of these designated fund areas will end up footing the bill for the municipal services provided to these new housing developments, while developers and consultants receive most of the financial benefits. This new program will benefit a select few developers in Wisconsin but only at the expense of most property taxpayers.

I respectfully ask you to stand against handouts to developers by opposing AB 609.