Northern Wisconsin Tribes Sue State, Towns For Taxing Reservation Lands

Four northern Wisconsin tribes have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker, the state and town officials over the taxation of reservation lands. The tribes argue the state and towns don’t have the right to tax reservation lands.

The complaint was filed Friday, Nov. 30, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District Court of Wisconsin by the Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau and Lac Courte Oreilles tribes. They contend the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, 11 towns and their assessors have been taxing fee simple lands on reservations in violation of the Treaty of 1854 between the United States government and Lake Superior Chippewa. Fee simple lands mean that the owner of the property can do whatever they want with the land, without being subject to limitations or conditions.

https://www.wpr.org/northern-wisconsin-tribes-sue-state-and-towns-taxing-reservation-lands