When Legislature mandates program, it should pay for implementation When is the state Legislature going to get the message? For years, it's been reacting to its own actions, but placing the blame on others. Local property taxes have been rising throughout the state in leaps and bounds. In its benevolence, the Legislature decided to create levy limits on school boards and local governments. Legislators proclaimed that they acted to reduce property taxes because local officials were unable to do so. Legislators need to cut the hogwash. Why were the local taxes rising so quickly? Simply put, property taxes were reacting to mandates imposed by the Legislature. The Legislature was behind the increases but wouldn't, and won't, admit it. Those limits are coming back to haunt local governments. The most evident cases involve schools. Most school districts in the state are facing problems with buildings after putting off maintenance to fund academic programs in recent years because they were budgeted to the maximum of their limit. Many counties in the state are considering replacement of overcrowded jails. The overcrowding was brought on after the Legislature mandated sentences for offenses, particularly jail time for traffic violations. When property taxes rise, local officials are the first to hear about it. But usually the increases are just pass-throughs for state-mandated programs. Often the state offers enticements for pilot programs and then removes the funding once a program is mandated. With a new Legislature taking office last month, legislators are offering a mountain of new legislation, addressing issues they felt were important during the last campaign. The Legislature needs to assess all proposed legislation and identify costs, particularly new costs. Then the state should fund all those costs they are imposing on other bodies of government. Some states in the nation have already done so and Wisconsin, which used to be progressive in legislative matters, should do so too. Quite simply, if the state wants to mandate a program, it should fund it completely. If legislators have the guts to do so. - Gene Kemmeter