April 12, 2021 | Number 15 |
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Public Hearings on the State Budget Continue Next Week
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), the Legislature's powerful budget writing committee, held the first of four public hearings on the 2021-23 state budget (AB 68/SB 111) on Friday last week. The League thanks Whitewater City Manager Cameron Clapper for testifying before the committee and advocating for the municipal budget priorities outlined in the League's budget comment template. Read Cameron's testimony here.
Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett also testified at the hearing and underscored the need for shared revenue funding increases.
The JFC is conducting three more public hearings on the budget over the next two weeks:
- Wednesday, April 21, 2021 The Hodag Dome, Rhinelander, WI
- Thursday, April 22, 2021 UW-Stout, Great Hall, Memorial Student Center Menomonie, WI
- Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Virtual
Each hearing begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. Persons testifying will likely be limited to two minutes of testimony. Persons may also email comments on the state budget to the following email address: Budget.Comments@legis.wisconsin.gov
Action Step: The League urges municipal officials to send comments to the Joint Finance Committee and your state legislators focusing on:
- Local Transportation Aids
- Payment for Municipal Services Program
Use the state budget comment template prepared by League staff here.
Assembly Hearing on Bill Allowing Trustees to be Employed by the Village
The League is working with Rep. Mursau (R-Crivitz) and Sen. Feltzkowski to pass AB 168/SB 187, a bill allowing a member of a village board to be employed by the village and receive an hourly wage, not exceeding $15,000 each year, as a village employee. The bill mirrors a current law provision allowing town board members to be hired by the town and earn wages up to $15,000 annually.
The Assembly Committee on Local Government is holding a hearing on AB 168 this Thursday, April 15th, at 1:00 in the North Hearing room in the State Capitol. League staff will testify in support of the bill. If you have stories or examples that could inform our testimony please email Curt or Toni. Thanks.
Personal Property Aid after TIF Closure Bill Keeps Advancing
Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Legal Review & Consumer Protection will hold a public hearing on SB 76, a League initiated bill making it clear that personal property aid payments being made to a TIF district transfer to the municipality and other taxing jurisdictions after the district closes. DOR interprets current law to say that the payments discontinue once a TIF district closes. The bill also, at DOR's request, clarifies that computer aid payments being made to a TIF district transfer to all of the other taxing jurisdictions when the district closes. Under current law, computer aid payments transfer to the municipality only. The bill treats computer aid and personal property aid payments made to a TID exactly the same once a district closes.
The full Assembly is planning to vote this week on the Assembly companion bill, AB 56, which was amended by the Ways and Means Committee to apply retroactively to all TIF districts that have closed since the personal property aid payments began being made in 2018.
American Rescue Plan Resources and Latest Information
The National League of Cities maintains a webpage containing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources and updates here. The page includes:
TAKE ACTION - ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES
Adopt the Shared Revenue Resolution!
Thank you to the cities and villages that have adopted or have added the Shared Revenue Resolution to their agenda for consideration. If your municipality isn’t on the list, it is NOT TOO LATE to take action in support of long-term funding for police, fire, parks, etc. We provide a sample resolution > League Shared Revenue Take Action Plan
Send us your Shared Revenue Stories
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RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION |
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AB 248, Pedestrians Crossing Railroads. In certain areas of the state, access to land for hunting, fishing, and trapping can be hindered by railroads bisecting public properties and parks. This bill simply allows people reasonable access to these lands. Many Wisconsinites are already crossing these railroads. However, under current law, hunters, anglers, trappers and others are not allowed to cross railroads except at designated spots, which may be miles away. If they do cross at any other location they are considered to be trespassing. The League supports this bill. Representative Magnafici (R-Dresser) and Senator Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls).
AB 250/SB 285, Department of Revenue Enforcement and Penalties. This bill makes several changes related to the Department of Revenue's enforcement and administration of the laws under its purview including:
- License to sell cigarettes or tobacco products
- Forfeitures for alcohol beverage violations,
- Publishing a list of retail licenses,
- Criminal history search fee,
- Tax return information disclosure,
- Lottery administration,
- Possession of alcohol vapor devices,
- Penalties for evading excise taxes and unlawful possession of cigarettes,
- Alcohol beverage permit reapplication, and
- Sales suppression devices and phantomware
The League has not taken a position on this bill to date. Representative Spiros (R-Marshfield) and Senator Wanggaard (R-Racine).
AB 259, Coverage of Telehealth Services. This bill prohibits a private insurer or a self-insured health plan of the state or a county, city, village, town, or school district from denying coverage or refusing to reimburse a health care provider for a treatment or service provided through telehealth, which includes audio-only telephone, if that treatment or service is covered under the policy or plan when provided in person by a health care provider. The League has not taken a position on this bill to date. Representative Wichgers (R-Muskego) and Senator Jacque (R-DePere).
SB 292, Broadcasting Election Night Proceedings. Under this bill, if a municipality broadcasts canvassing proceedings live in any election, including by live stream on the Internet, the municipality must record the broadcast, and the municipal clerk must retain the recording for 22 months. The League has not taken a position on this bill to date. Senator Wimberger (R-Green Bay) and Representative Sortwell (R-Two Rivers).
SB 303, Local Reporting Requirements related to General Transportation Aids. Under this bill, if a village or town fails to file the necessary documentation by the specified deadline, but does provide the documentation within 30 days after the deadline, the amount of aid payable to a village or town may not be reduced by more than $100 for each day that the necessary documentation is late and may not be reduced by more than $2,200.The League supports this bill. Senator Ballweg (R-Markesan) and Representative Petryk (R-Town of Washington).
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PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK |
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AB 51, Public notice of noncandidacy for incumbent local elected officials. By Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections on Wednesday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 417 North, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
AB 173, Private resources used for election administration, appointment of election officials, and providing a penalty. By Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections on Wednesday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 417 North, State Capitol. The League has no position on this bill.
AB 170, Election observers and providing a penalty. By Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections on Wednesday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 417 North, State Capitol. The League has no position on this bill.
AB 198, Defects on absentee ballot certificates, certain kinds of election fraud. By Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections on Wednesday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 417 North, State Capitol. The League has no position on this bill.
AB 85, General Permit for Hydrologic Restoration. By Assembly Committee on the Environment, Thursday, April 15, at 10:00 am in 417 North, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
AB 140, Expanding the Clean Sweep Program to Include PFAS Fire Fighting Foam. By Assembly Committee on the Environment, Thursday, April 15, at 10:00 am in 417 North, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
AB 168, Allowing a member of a village board to be employed by the village and receive an hourly wage, not exceeding $15,000 each year, as a village employee. By the Assembly Committee on Local Government on Thursday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m. in the North Hearing Room, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
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IN THE NEWS
(Paywalls may apply)
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Wisconsin Election Officials, Groups Raise Concerns About Proposed Election Law Changes Read the article.
Pandemic impact may weigh on commercial real estate recovery Read the article. Click here to comment or share this article from the League's Facebook page.
WEDC report details goals for state's COVID-19 recovery, which could be boosted with federal stimulus funds Read the article.
Wisconsin Appeals Court sides against business group in effort to block public records Read the article.
High-capacity wells are reducing lake levels in Wisconsin's Central Sands region, a new study finds Read the article.
'Of course, we should do this': Wauwatosa passes resolution in support of the Asian American community Read the article.
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League Membership Virtual Roundtable
Tuesday, April 13, at 12PM to 1PM - Guest: Mark Freitag, Janesville City Mgr.
Zoom information is also posted here on the League's Covid-19 page.
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Cyber Security Workshop
April 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
Local Government 101
May 7, May 21 and June 4 via Zoom
Please thank our sponsors!
Clerks, Treasurers & Finance Officers Institute
June 9-11, 2021 via Zoom
Please thank our sponsors!
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
Chief Executives Summer Workshop
August 19 & 20, 2021 – Hotel Retlaw, Fond du Lac
Please thank our sponsor! MPIC
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Email questions or comments to:
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