MADISON – The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday accepted a petition for an original action from taxpayers who are challenging Gov. Tony Evers’ imaginative veto that would allow property taxes to increase exponentially for 400 years.
The WMC Litigation Center is representing Jeffery LeMieux and David DeValk in the lawsuit and filed an original action with the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in April. As outlined in the petition, the lawsuit asks the Court to strike down the governor’s unconstitutional use of this type of veto.
At issue is Gov. Evers’ use of the so-called “Vanna White” or “pick-a-letter” veto. The governor creatively eliminated specific numbers in a portion of the budget bill that was meant to increase the property tax levy limit for school districts in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years. By striking individual digits, the levy limit would instead be increased from the years 2023 to 2425 – or four centuries into the future.
“No governor from any political party has the authority to perform such a veto,” said WMC Litigation Center Executive Director Scott Rosenow. “We appreciate the Court providing the necessary oversight.”
The WMC Litigation Center filed this lawsuit directly with the Supreme Court to ensure the issue can be resolved in a timely manner. The first brief in this case is due in 30 days.
