Currently under Wisconsin TIF Law, Wisconsin towns are prohibited from using TIF for retail projects. However, Gov. Scott Walker recently signed a bill into law that allows the Town of Brookfield to use TIF to support a 600,000 square foot retail and office development designed to replace an empty home improvement store and a former movie theater. The bill was adopted unanimously by the Wisconsin Senate and passed by a voice vote in the Wisconsin Assembly. Another Wisconsin Town, Cedarburg, is also looking to expand its TIF authority to enable it to use TIF for retail development.
When the Governor was asked whether he would support changing the TIF law to allow other Wisconsin towns to use TIF for retail development, Gov. Walker said that he would consider such a change because he believes that TIF Districts are powerful economic development tools to help communities create jobs.