Section 77.876. Noncompliance assessment.

 

(1)   Assessment. The department shall certify to each municipality in which the property is located an owner's failure to complete a forestry practice during the period of time required under an applicable management plan, and the municipality shall impose a noncompliance assessment of $250 against the owner for each failure. The department shall mail a copy of the certificate of assessment to the owner at the owner's last-known address and to the municipality.

(2)   Payment. An assessment under sub. (1) is due and payable to the municipality on the last day of the month following the date the certificate is mailed to the owner. The municipality shall collect interest at the rate of 12 percent per year on any assessment that is paid later than the due date.

(3)   Owner's liability. The owner is personally liable for an assessment under sub. (1) . An unpaid assessment becomes a lien against the merchantable timber cut. If the merchantable timber cut is mingled with other wood products, the unpaid assessment becomes a lien against all of the wood products while they are in the owner's possession or in the possession of any person other than a purchaser for value without notice in the usual course of business.

(4)   Delinquency. If an assessment due under sub. (1) is not paid on or before the last day of the August following the date specified under sub. (2) , the municipality shall certify to the taxation district clerk the description of the land and the amount due for the assessment and interest. The taxation district clerk shall enter the delinquent amount on the property tax roll as a special charge.

2003 a. 228 ; 2005 a. 299 .