Fitchburg Joint Review Board Meeting

The Fitchburg Joint Review Board met on May 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to review a proposed amendment to Tax Increment Financing District No. 17. The purpose of the meeting was informational; no formal action was taken. Greg Johnson of Ehlers and Associates presented an overview of Amendment No. 1, which covers a boundary amendment and project plan amendment for TID No. 17.

Note: The supplied transcript states the meeting occurred on May 19, 2025, at 4 p.m., while the meeting date used in this summary is May 19, 2026, as directed.

Attendance & Appointments

• Participants included Sean Paff (committee chair), Mike Zimmerman (City of Fitchburg Economic Development Director), Lori Gregg (Madison Area Technical College), Adam Gallagher (Dane County Treasurer), Chad Weiss (Verona Area School District), Bob Solner and Maya Pearson (Madison Metropolitan School District), and Ali Maldrow (Madison Metropolitan School District Board member).
• Jeff Huntley of Fitchburg Partners was available to answer tactical questions.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the November 6, 2025 Joint Review Board meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public appeared for non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Greg Johnson explained that TID No. 17 is a rehabilitation district located in the Verona Area School District, not the Madison Metropolitan School District.
• Amendment No. 1 would add four parcels to the district boundary. This is the first of four permitted boundary amendments under state statute.
• The original TID district contained approximately 185 gross acres, with about 147 acres meeting the statutory definition of an area in need of rehabilitation or conservation. With the added parcels, the qualifying area would increase to 83%, above the required 50% threshold.
• The city remains in compliance with the statutory 12% valuation test based on January 1, 2025 equalized values.
• The amendment adds $25.4 million in eligible project costs, including about $100,000 for two half-mile-radius traffic signal improvement projects. The original project plan costs remain unchanged and are incorporated by reference.
• As of the end of fiscal year 2025, about $33,732 had been spent on administrative costs associated with the district.
• Existing incremental value generated in the district since its creation in 2023 is $7,733,000. The amendment anticipates about $17,229,000 in incremental value from a proposed retail development on the southern portion of parcel 45 and about $50,000,000 from a multifamily development on the northern portion of parcel 55.
• The district is projected to generate about $30,167,000 in revenue over its 27-year life, with projected closure by 2034. A $2,000,000 pay-as-you-go development incentive is anticipated for the retail project.
• The TID tax rate is $18.97 per thousand, assumed to decline at 0.75% annually.
• Chad Weiss noted that the Verona Area School District owns seven tax-exempt parcels within the existing TID boundary and asked whether they should be removed during this amendment. He said the district was indifferent but wanted the issue surfaced. City staff responded that the parcels help maintain a contiguous boundary and could be revisited in future boundary amendments.

Key Outcomes

• No action was taken by the Joint Review Board on Amendment No. 1 at this meeting.
• The amendment was scheduled for a Plan Commission public hearing at 5:00 p.m. and a Common Council special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on the same evening.
• The amendment will return to the Joint Review Board on June 24 at 3:30 p.m. for final action and to satisfy the annual TID review requirement. Madison Metropolitan School District representatives are invited to participate but will not vote because the project is located in the Verona Area School District.