Crowley says he will "absolutely" sign repeal of data center tax breaks
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley says he would sign legislation repealing the state’s data center tax incentives if elected, reversing his earlier position that the incentives warranted further review. The incentives, approved in the 2023 budget, have reportedly saved data center developers an estimated $1.5 billion.
Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley said he would "absolutely" sign a bill repealing tax incentives for data centers if elected. The position marks a shift from comments he made in August, when he said the state should not automatically roll back the incentives and should instead assess whether taxpayers were receiving sufficient value.
The exemptions were approved in Wisconsin’s 2023 budget under Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers, and are estimated to have reduced state revenue by $1.5 billion. Republican candidate Tom Tiffany has supported federal legislation that would limit state and local enforcement of AI-related rules, while Crowley favors a state-level regulatory response. A Marquette poll found that 74% of Wisconsin residents believe data centers’ costs outweigh their benefits.