Overtaxed and Underfunded
September, The Municipality, pg. 4
Eric Genrich, Mayor, Green Bay
"The local revenue crunch was bad before COVID, and it’s only gotten worse. The recent recession has had a significant impact on local budgets in the current year, and there’s good reason to fear the negative fiscal effects could linger in 2021 and beyond. Now, more than ever, it’s essential that local and state policymakers come together to develop a fair and resilient mix of local and state revenue sources that enable us to meet our shared challenges and obligations.
Paradoxically and confoundingly, Wisconsin cities and villages are overtaxed and underfunded. How can that be? Well, when compared to other municipalities around the country, Wisconsin communities have demonstrably higher property taxes, and, in most cases, less freedom to raise revenue from other sources. At the same time, we have seen state support in the form of shared revenue and other aid to local government reduced dramatically over the course of the last two decades." Read the Mayor's column on page 4 of the September The Municipality.
Referenced in the Mayor's column: Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) instituted in Oklahoma City. "By funding the projects with a limited term, one-cent sales tax, the projects were built debt free. The U.S. Conference of Mayors noted, “Using a pay-as-you-go structure allowed Oklahoma City to build world-class facilities without the burden of debt for future generations and city leaders. Oklahoma City citizens made the historic decision to invest their own money in the city they called home.”
League Resource:
A report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum released February, 2019.
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Where the Rubber Meets the Road
September, The Municipality, pg. 6
Wisconsin State Representative John J. Macco, 88th Assembly District
"For five years I have advocated a restructure of our local funding platform to give local government more control, to put less pressure on the incomes of hard working Wisconsinites, and on the property of fixed-income empty nesters....
Our whole committee will need your help, but as we look past our current management struggles to constructive leadership initiatives this next session, I am encouraged. The time may be right to build out a long-term growth platform and put control and performance back to where the rubber meets the road."
Referenced in Rep. Macco's column:
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It’s Time for Ethical Communication
September, The Municipality, pg. 14
Eric will be writing a quarterly column as part of the new resource the League and League Mutual are providing to League members in partnership with the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS). WIPPS will provide one-on-one consultation where a community has a complex or longstanding conflict management challenge. The cost of this consultation will be negotiated between WIPPS and the individual municipality, except in cases where League Insurance deems it advisable to support one of its insured municipalities. Learn more "League Conflict Management Resource" (PDF)
To access this service, contact Matt Becker, CEO of League Mutual (LWMMI) at email if your municipality is insured by LWMMI. If you are not insured by League Mutual, contact Eric Giordano at email to seek an initial consultation and discuss fees. List of League Mutual Insureds
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State’s Share of Public Spending Rises
September, The Municipality, pg. 9
The Wisconsin Policy Forum
Because of higher state spending in areas like health care for low-income residents and slower growth in local government and school district revenues, the latest Census Bureau data show state government expenditures are now almost equal to the combined amount spent by schools, municipalities, counties, technical colleges, and other local governments in Wisconsin. The effects of the pandemic are unclear but the trend should be considered by policymakers as they contemplate COVID-19 responses and the next state budget. Read the full report.
Bonus -
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Adapt, Emerge, Thrive
The League's 122nd Annual Conference
October 6-8 & 13-15, 2020
A series of 18 virtual and 6 in-person regional meetings across Wisconsin. Register now here!
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Funding Streets Through Transportation Utility Fees
September, The Municipality, pg. 17
Curt Witynski, J.D., Deputy Executive Director, Claire Silverman, Legal Counsel,
Maria Davis, Assistant Legal Counsel, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Powers of Municipalities #939: A municipality may rely on its broad statutory and/or constitutional home rule powers to create a transportation utility and charge property owners transportation utility fees. Alternatively, a municipality may charge property owners a street maintenance user fee under Wis. Stat. § 66.0627. Any fee must be reasonably related to the cost of the services provided. A transportation utility fee is most defensible against challenge if the basis for the fee is closely related to property occupants’ use of the local street network. Transportation utility fees with such a basis are accurately characterized as fees and not taxes. Such fees should be segregated and used only for street maintenance and other transportation services. To avoid needing to reduce the community’s property tax levy under § 66.0602(2m)(b) of the levy limit law, municipalities should avoid using transportation utility fee revenue to pay for snow plowing or street sweeping. Read the article (PDF).
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HR Matters
Five Important Facts About Compensatory Time
September, The Municipality, pg. 25
By Lisa Bergersen, Principal Attorney at EngageHR Law, Former HR Director, City of Pewaukee
Employees 365: HR Matters column, by Attorney Lisa Bergersen, discussing five important facts about compensatory time for non-exempt employees, including: employee agreement to receive compensatory time, FLSA regulations regarding accrual and use, paying compensation time upon separation of employment, WRS late interest penalties that may apply to compensatory time carryover, and granting time off for extra hours to exempt employees. Read the column. (PDF)
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RONR 12th Edition – Changes from 11th Edition & Subsidiary Motions
September, The Municipality, pg. 27
This month, Dan discusses the 12th edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised (RONR), is now available. Although detailed update information is not yet available, bookseller websites note the following relevant changes.... Read the column (PDF)
Access all of the "For the Good of the Order" columns on Parliamentary Procedure on our website here.
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Note - if you work for a League member municipality and previously shared a magazine with colleagues but would now like your own, please send an email with your mailing address to [email protected] There is no additional cost.
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Are you wondering what other municipalities have planned for Halloween? Take a look and add your own plans to this spreadsheet created by Sarah Millard from the City of Beloit: Halloween Plans Google Spreadsheet
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Adapt, Emerge and Thrive
The League's 122nd Annual Conference
October 6-8 & 13-15, 2020
18 virtual and 6 in-person regional meetings across Wisconsin.
The Positive Power of Servant Leadership with Tom Thibodeau | Unpacking 2020: Lessons Learned in Crisis Communications | Racial Equity Local Government Action Steps | Tax Incremental Financing Basics | Roundtable: Small Communities | How Secure is your Municipality's Network? Assessing Cyber Risk | Best Practices for Recruiting & Interviewing Your Next Hire | Finding Lowest Responsible Bidders for your Construction Projects | Roundtable: Large Communities | Ask the Attorneys |
Innovative and Affordable Ways to Comply with Phosphorus Standards | Locally Sourced Downtowns: Supporting and Cultivating a Thriving District | Useful Tools for Environmental Cleanup and Property Redevelopment | Managing Conflict in Local Government | How Some Rural Communities Thrive while Shedding Population:
Learning to Shrink Smart | Budget Strategies for Surviving the Recession and Thriving Post-Pandemic | Three Feisty Clerks: Candid Feedback for Municipal Leaders
This series of workshops will be provided via Zoom.
Annual Conference In-Person Regional Meetings
We know there’s a unique value to local leaders being able to get together and share ideas, so we’re hosting a series of six in-person regional meetings. Join us at the meeting nearest to you. Space is limited, so only registered conference attendees may attend. Your health is our first concern, so it is possible that we may have to cancel one or more regional meetings based on pandemic conditions.
Tuesday, October 6
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Spooner Council Chambers
Wednesday, October 7
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Strum Village Hall Community Room
Thursday, October 8
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Lancaster Muni Golf Course Club House
Tuesday, October 13
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Waterford Seidel Community Center
Wednesday, October 14
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Brillion City Center Council Chambers
Thursday, October 15
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Clintonville Community Center
#LeagueWI2020
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The Police and Fire Commission Workshop
November 13, 2020 via Zoom
The Role of the Police & Fire Commission (PFC): Duties, Powers and Responsibilities
- Why We Have a Commission
- PFC Composition & Structure
- Powers & Duties of the Commission
- Disciplinary Hearings
- Overview of Open Meeting & Public Records Laws
Selecting Police and Fire Personnel
- Hiring Entry Level-Personnel
- Promotion
- Hiring Chiefs
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