Lawmakers propose tax credit to attract people relocating from LA and North Carolina after disasters
MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- What if moving away from wildfires and hurricanes could actually earn you money?
One State Representative is floating a unique idea, offering tax breaks to people from California and North Carolina, hoping they'll trade natural disasters for the fresh lakes.
This bill introduced to lawmakers offers a $10,000 tax credit for those affected by Hurricane Helene and the Los Angles Wildfires.
When State Representative Cindi Duchow introduced the bill, she said it could be part of a bigger plan to attract people to Wisconsin.
"We are losing people here in the state of Wisconsin. We need more people to come here," said State Representative Duchow.
State Representative Duchow got the idea after watching the LA fires rip through the Pacific Palisades.
"I thought where are these people going to go because it was devastating," said State Representative Duchow.
California Native Patty Checa moved to Milwaukee in 2015 but has family that were forced to evacuate the LA fires.
"This hit really close to home because I grew up in Santa Monica I never in 42 years saw anything like this," said Checa.
She says she knows people that have moved to our area from California, looking to escape the unpredictable flames.
"One: they have family members that live here and two: they just didn't want to deal with any of that anymore," said Checa.
According to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council between July of 2021 and July of 2022 1,200 people are moving to Florida every day.
Representative Duchow says she wants to see the move to Wisconsin.
"I know we have a little bit of a cold winter, but they can get a good coat," said State Representative Duchow.
Earlier this week we talked with a man visiting from North Carolina on the Pearl Mist cruise ship.
"We just survived the big Helene storm, an epicenter of where I am," said Larry Harrell, North Carolina resident.
Harrell says he always wanted to see the Great Lakes.
“We don’t have any of the big rivers or anything, lakes. Nothing up in the mountains of North Carolina. But this is a wonderful getaway," said Harrell.
This bill could make Wisconsin more than a getaway but a chance to make it their home.
Representative Duchow says the bill is on its way to the Senate and if approved hopes it goes into effect by the end of the summer.