Ravaged By Walker's "Reforms," Distressed Janesville Wins Government Aid Zone Designation

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Ravaged by eight years of Gov. Scott Walker's "reforms" and preyed upon by some of his biggest local campaign donors for repeated "Dark Store" property tax rebates, nearly a third of the city of Janesville has been designated by the government as a "Economic Opportunity Zone."

City Of Janesville Memo Excerpt:
The U.S. Department of Treasury announced on Monday, April 9, the City of Janesville was awarded three Economic Opportunity Zones which cover the former General Motors Assembly Plant, much of Janesville's downtown, and the south side industrial parks including SHINE Medical Technologies.

Prior to the new designation, two of the zones, the SHINE industrial Park and the city's downtown, in addition to holding a high concentration of Walker cash donors and local Paul Ryan linked developers have tapped local and state taxpayers for more than $60 million in assistance combined over the next ten years.

In contrast, many of Janesville's seniors trying to remain living in their homes on Social Security have been further stressed by new rules to the state's property tax Homestead Credit under Gov. Walker.

Senior households, even some into their 70's and 80's are forced to choose between food or paying high property taxes - no longer qualify for the modest credit if they don't have earned income - while Walker's biggest donors reap giant tax credits or lawyer up for property tax relief for themselves.

City Of Janesville Memo Excerpt:
According to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), "The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established Opportunity Zones to spur private investment in distressed communities... This new Opportunity Zones program will allow investment in some of our nation's most economically challenged communities through tax incentives... [which] encourage private investment to accelerate economic growth and job creation."