Commercial Real Estate and Government Day took place on Wednesday, April 26th in Madison, WI. The Capitol was abuzz with real estate professionals, lawmakers and lobbyists working on the State Budget expected to be rolled out in early summer. Members of CARW met up in the building to hear from a number of policy makers on the important issues impacting our commercial real estate industry.
Big thanks to our presenters who prepared us for meetings with legislators including:
Jeff Stone (Kapur)
Tom Larson (WRA) & Cori Lamont (WRA)
Dale Knapp (Wisconsin Counties Association)
Emily McFarland (City of Watertown)
Dennis Winters (Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development)
When meeting with legislators, CARW members focused on items being discussed in the Upcoming State Budget which is top priority in the building right now. They shared stories and first-hand experience related to issues including:
- Tax reform to ensure there is not an overreliance on the property tax encouraging possible changes to shared revenue and the need for additional tools for local municipalities to spur economic development (outside of the property tax);
- Workforce housing: to create programs for communities and commercial real estate to solve for the housing shortage which impacts business and economic development;
- Infrastructure funding: to maintain and improve vital corridors that transport goods and services throughout the State
Read more about Government Day issues HERE
Slides can be found here:
Shared Revenue – Emily McFarland, City of Watertown
Workforce Development – Dennis Winters, DWD
Please join us in thanking the following for their work to pull the day together: Jeff Stone, Kapur; Ben Filkouski, Madison Commercial Real Estate; Mandy Witt, Coldwell Banker Commercial / McGuire Mears & Associates
If you’re interested in learning more about these issues or others, contact the Association office or let us know if you’d like to participate on the policy committee.