Barron News-Shield — Wed., June 24, 2020 — 9A www.news-shield.com Taxpayers likely to feel impact of pandemic By Bob Zientara July 31, 2020, each of us who owns taxpayer’s future payments. Exactly decrease the half-percent sales tax to fund improvements at the high property can now wait until as late what that role might be has yet to be levied by the county on retail sales, school. You think we’ve seen the worst that as Oct. 1 to make the fi nal payment. determined, but it is already showing especially if the summer tourism sea- It was done because the state uses a the COVID-19 pandemic can do? If County Finance Director Jodi Busch up in small ways. son doesn’t produce the volume it did so-called “equalization aid” formula you pay sales, property or income advises property owners to check Here are three examples, two from in previous years. “to make up the differences between taxes (and most of us do), to coin with their local clerks and County Barron County, one from the Barron County Administrator Jeff French the yield from a district’s actual tax the Bette Davis phrase: “Fasten your Treasurer Vonnie Ritchie for details. Area School District. said sales tax collections for May base and the state benchmark ‘guar- seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy So, assuming we budget our money First, Barron County has advised 2020 were nearly $62,000 less than anteed tax base.’” night.” wisely, we have extra cash and extra local snowmobile and ATV clubs to they were a year ago. If that trend In other words, “districts with low First, the good news. Thanks to ac- time to pay off two of the largest bills seek private fi nancing for their proj- were to continue, some budget ad- per-pupil property valuations re- tion in Congress and the Wisconsin we will face this year. ects. justments might be in order, because ceive a larger share of their costs Legislature, most of us who pay in- Now, the not-so-good news. These clubs normally borrow mon- the county uses half of its pool of reimbursed through the equalization come and/or property taxes were giv- Local governments are going to be ey from the county at reduced inter- sales tax money each year to offset formula than districts with high per- en grace periods in order to weather affected by a steep drop in revenue est rates to buy grooming equipment local property taxes. pupil property valuations,” DPI said. the coronavirus storm. because of the coronavirus. How By Christmas, we will all get the or pay for trail maintenance. County According to Andrew Sloan, direc- The debt payment made it “ap- Federal and state income taxes are steep the drop, and how much less news – good, bad or indifferent – leaders, seeking to keep some cash tor of fi nance for the Barron Area pear” as if Barron is in a better “tax normally due and payable April 15. revenue, are unknowns. The whole when next year’s property tax bill ar- on hand depending on what happens School District, state school aid may bracket” than it actually is. Paying But, to provide each of us with thing should play out between now rives in the mail. later this year, have asked the clubs to go down about $229 per student next off the debt early is likely to mean more cash during the lockdown and the end of the year. Even so, the COVID-19 revenue look elsewhere to fi nance their proj- year because of the pandemic. more state aid – even with shrinking (which only lately has begun to ease), School districts will close the books shortage is sure to play a role in every ects. Sloan said the district should expect revenue overall – and less of a local income taxpayers have until July 15, on their current budgets on June 30 local government budget and every Second, the pandemic is likely to about $325,000 less from the state tax increase. 2020 to make good. and must lock in on a local property next year. Were that to happen, the “We can (usually) project -- with a The same goes for Barron County tax levy by mid-October. shortfall may have to be covered in high degree of certainty -- what (next property owners. Earlier this year, the Counties will go into their budget other ways – including local property year’s) mill rate will be,” Sloan said. Wisconsin Legislature okayed a mea- cycles later in the summer, and will taxes. “This year it is far more diffi cult. sure that allows second-half property adopt their tax levies and budgets To improve its position as a candi- “But we have put ourselves in a taxes to be delayed two additional around Thanksgiving. date for more state aid, the Barron position to best manage this for our months without an interest penalty. Municipal budgets will be written Area School District recently pre- taxpayers.” So, instead of having to pay up by during November and December. paid $800,000 worth of debt incurred Barron News-Shield ,Z[HISPZOLKPU)HYYVUOVTLVM[OLJV\U[`˕ZÄYZ[UL^ZWHWLY;OL*V\U[`:LH[ USPS044-680 Periodicals postage paid at Barron, Wisconsin 54812. Published every Wednesday at 219 E. LaSalle Avenue, Barron, Wisconsin by Bell Press, Inc. Mark Bell ........................................................Publisher/Sports Editor Jim Bell ................................................................Associate Publisher Bob Zientara ..............................................................................Editor Bob Groshong .......................................................Contributing Editor Val Gieseke ...............................................................2I¿FH0DQDJHU Mary Goetsch ................................................... Advertising Manager Joe Waite ...............................................................Graphic Designer Member Wisconsin Newspaper Assn’n — Member National Newspaper Ass’n. – The Way It Was – POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Barron News-Shield, Box 100, Barron, WI 54812 10 Years Ago—June 23, 2010 on what the national event should look like or whether Biden should come to Barron County offi cials appear to be supporting a 2 percent hike in the SUBSCRIPTION RATES Wisconsin to accept the nomination regardless of the DNC’s format. levy for the 2011 budget.––Kristen Sigurdsen, a 2009 Barron graduate, had a fantastic season with the St. Paul, Minn., Northwestern College softball (WITHIN BARRON COUNTY including Ridgeland, Clayton & New Auburn) Still, he suggested Republicans are so intent on an in-person convention and Trump rallies because they aren’t able to match Democrats for ginning team, this spring, earning All-Conference shortstop honors in her freshman One Year, cash in advance .......................................................$37.00 up enthusiasm among their supporters without those events. In doing so, he campaign. (OUTSIDE BARRON COUNTY — IN STATE) argued they’re ignoring science. 20 Years Ago—June 21, 2000 “We don’t think that there’s a compromise here,” Wikler said of keeping The Barron County Board of Supervisors heard the fi rst reading Monday One Year, cash in advance .......................................................$38.50 Democratic supporters safe and having a successful convention. “It’s just night of a resolution authorizing the purchase of property on which to build (OUT OF STATE) a straightforward decision that our fi rst priority should be the safety of our a proposed justice center that would include the jail, courtrooms, clerk of courts and related offi ces.––The Village of Ridgeland is observing its 100th One Year, cash in advance .......................................................$41.00 communities and our families, and we get creative how we take it from there.” Wikler said the state party’s organization efforts have helped fundraising. anniversary with a Centennial celebration June 30-July 2. PHONE: (715) 537-3117 WISCONSIN'S He said the party in November 2019 knocked on 60,000 doors a year out from 30 Years Ago—June 20, 1990 NEWSPAPERS FAX NO.: (715) 537-5640 Work will begin soon to clear away trees in order to build streets in the SUPPORT the 2020 election, and that helped make the case to donors to invest in the RECYCLING E-MAIL ADDRESS: party for the spring race. Rockman Park Addition in the southeast section of the city.––The City of [email protected] He said the party’s commitment this spring to Jill Karofsky’s Supreme Court Barron has received a $100,000 loan from the state trust fund. The money will go toward paying for a new municipal well constructed in the Rolling Advertising: [email protected] campaign nearly $1.4 million was a gamble, especially amid COVID-19 pandemic. But her convincing win helped cement the party’s relationship Oaks addition at the west edge of the city. The total cost of the project is with donors and volunteers who got involved. around $217,000. Now, the next test is the fall, which he said will not only shape the presi- 40 Years Ago—June 25, 1980 dential race but also lay the foundation for what the party can do in 2022. The Barron Area Board of Education approved a budget of $4,121,297 That’s when Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul will be up for for the 1980-81 school year.––The Prairie Farm school board approved an re-election. amended graduation requirement policy that will require all future graduates He said the goal this fall is simple: beat Trump and prevent Republicans of Prairie Farm high school to obtain a minimum of 24 credits. from getting two-thirds majorities in both houses of the state Legislature. 50 Years Ago—June 24, 1970 “The Trump operation is going to pour everything they have into our state,” Police Chief Clarence Desrude has issued a call for help in locating two Wikler said. “At the same time, Robin Vos is going to seek to move moun- very expensive bicycles, which were stolen from the owners’ residences last tains to grab supermajorities that could allow him to override the voters’ Thursday night.––The annual Chamber of Commerce “Appreciation Day” Democrats, Ready, Optimistic wishes from 2018 and draw new maps without input from people elected by is spread over two days this year, Friday and Saturday of this week, Barron a majority of the voters.” stores and businesses will close Saturday at 1 p.m.