MADISON, WI – On March 4, Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation by State Rep. Dave Armstrong (Rice Lake) & State Sen. Robert Cowles, (Rice Lake), that will make important economic tools known as environmental rehab tax incremental districts (ERTIDs), more cost-effective.
I am happy to see bipartisan support Senate Bill 518It was a great experience throughout the legislative process and it was continued when Governor Evers signed into law. Act 149Armstrong, Representative.
In the old law, a ERTID developer could be compensated for remediating outside pollution on a property but not for containing and removing hazardous substances found indoors. This is despite the possibility that such materials may be released into the surrounding environment during redevelopment. Asbestos is expensive to manage safely. Many developers won’t take on projects that involve asbestos removal. As a result, asbestos-ridden buildings can remain unoccupied for years, causing havoc in the community.
Representative Armstrong said that Act 149 addresses the problem by expanding the definitions of environmental pollution for ERTID purposes. It now includes materials like asbestos and lead that, if released into an environment during the redevelopment process of an existing structure, could cause harm.
Act 149 will allow the costs of containing these materials to be covered. I believe this will make redevelopment projects cost-effective and more appealing to potential developers. This will enable more blighted property to be put to good use and benefit the community in many ways including increased housing.
