The Wisconsin Policy Forum has converted its yearly MunicipalFacts report into a digital publication - the
Municipal DataTool. This tool covers five years of data on Wisconsin's cities and villages, including municipal spending, property taxes and values, debt, state shared revenues, income and income taxes, and population. This year, for the first time, the Wisconsin Policy Forum has expanded its analysis from the 250 largest cities and villages to include all 601 Wisconsin cities and villages. The tool allows users to compare groups of municipalities for free - a service that was formerly only available for a charge.
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Developing Your Municipal Budget
Plus
Basic Governing
Randy Reeg, City Administrator, Mauston & James Fenlon, Village Administrator, Little Chute
July,
The Municipality, pg. 4 and pg. 7
From politics to public perception to planning plus quantitative and qualitative analysis, Randy lays out the Ps and Qs of the municipal budgeting process. James details the three key areas to managing a community.
Read both articles in the July magazine online...
Additional Resources:
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Budgeting and Levy Limits
July,
The Municipality, pg. 12
Wisconsin cities, villages, towns and counties have operated under levy limits since the 2006 budget year. With its numerous adjustments, the impact of levy limits on individual local government units has varied considerably. Prior to developing budgetary goals and objectives, it is important to understand what constraints your projected allowable levy poses. The following is an overview of the levy limit law, commonly used adjustments and new adjustments.
Read Todd's article as a PDF here...
Access the accompanying PowerPoint here...
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Wisconsin TIF Projects
July,
The Municipality, pg. 10
Wisconsin cities and villages serve as the main engines that drive business growth and prosperity across the state. Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is the most effective tool they have to spur economic development, job creation and tax base growth.
Additional Resources:
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State of Wisconsin Investment Board - Your Municipality's Partner
David Villa, Chief Investment Officer, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
July,
The Municipality, pg. 17
Additional Resources:
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Dealing with Limitation of Liability Clauses in Contracts
Thomas Cameron, Assistant City Attorney, City of Sheboygan
July,
The Municipality
, pg. 20
Increasingly vendors and contractors are adding clauses to their contracts that limit their liability, often at the expense of the municipality. In his article for the July, 2019
The Municipality
magazine, "Dealing with Limitation of Liability Clauses in Contracts," Attorney Cameron details what municipalities need to be aware of before signing a contract. In this conversation with Jerry Deschane, for the League's the Local Perspective, Thomas goes into more detail and illustrates his examples with stories.
Read Thomas's article as a PDF here...
Watch the Local Perspective...
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Nominate an ARTS Champion Today!
The Arts in the Community Awards, presented by
Arts Wisconsin in partnership with the League, acknowledge local champions who value the arts, culture, and creativity as integral to economic, educational, and community vitality. The goal is to honor local elected and government officials and civic leaders who are not usually identified as "arts people," but who show leadership in community cultural development and civic engagement through the arts.
The application deadline is August 30, 2019. The 11th annual awards will be presented at the League's 121st Annual Conference October 23-25 in Green Bay. Go to
www.artswisconsin.org for application information.
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Three $3,000 Grants Thanks to WEA Trust Local Spark Award!
The
WEA Trust 2019 Local Spark Award entry period opens Thursday, August 1! What is your idea to help benefit your community? Enter between August 1-31 and you'll have a chance to win one of three $3,000 grants!
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Show your local gov LOVE!
#CityHallSelfie Day is August 15 and
Villages
can be all in too!
Don't forget to tag the League in your posts and we will share to our social media.
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The Future is Bright
It’s a big deal when the leader of an insurance company steps down after 35 years, but thanks to a lot of foresight, a unique operational structure and a hardwired commitment to serving Wisconsin municipalities, the transition between Dennis Tweedale and Matt Becker at League of Wisconsin Municipal Mutual Insurance (LWMMI) has been a smooth one. The future looks bright and secure for the cities and villages covered by the company.
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Women Mayors and Village Presidents
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The League's Chief Executives Workshop
August 22-23, 2019
Osthoff Resort
Elkhart Lake, WI
Coping with Loss: Sun Prairie and Appleton Share their Stories - Strategies for Expanding Housing Options in your Community - Panel Topic: Curbing Bad Behavior at Meetings and Hearings - Leading Positive Community Change with Dr. David Ivan - Forging the Way, Leading as a Woman in Local Government - Attracting and Keeping Talent Home with Quint Studer, founder of Studer Community Institute & author of Building a Vibrant Community - Divided Government: How’s it Working?
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League Chief Executives Workshop Speaker will Inspire You!
"Attracting and Keeping Talent Home
," Quint Studer, a former Wisconsin resident, is working closely with the City of Janesville to revitalize their downtown and will inspire you with what he’s learned and applied in the communities that he’s’ worked in. He is the founder of the Studer Community Institute; a businessman, visionary and entrepreneur.
Attendees can win a copy of his new book “Building A Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America.” In his book he addresses what every community needs to become a great place to live and work. The why is no mystery: We want to create a place our children and grandchildren will want to be. We also know the what: We need to attract investments, provide good jobs, and create lively downtowns where citizens will want to work, live, shop and play. What is usually missing is the how. Quint addresses all three aspects, but mainly focuses on the last one. How can your community get from where it is now to where it wants to be?
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Municipal Assessors Institute
September 16-18, 2019
Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center
Oshkosh, WI
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Register Now for one of the four Small Community Forums
If you live in, work in, or help shape your small community and/or region, please attend one of these Forums. You'll connect with representatives from a variety of statewide resources and discuss with your regional neighborhood what your community needs and can do to grow and thrive into the future.
Register here!
- Crivitz, August 8
- Independence, August 21
- Pardeeville, August 28
- Nekoosa, September 11
Brought to you in partnership by the League, Wisconsin Rural Partners, Arts Wisconsin, USDA, UW-Extension, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
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The League's 121st Annual Conference
With Engineering & Public Works Institute
October 23-25, 2019
KI Center, Green Bay
Network with attendees from municipalities all over Wisconsin. Workshops include: Innovations in Housing Development; Human Resources 101; Bus Tour - Northern Renewal - Tour of Green Bay and Ashwaubenon; Mini Bar - A New Round of FUNdamentals for Municipal Attorneys; Exhibit Hall with 105 vendors; Mock "Bad Characters" Meeting, Table for 10 and that's just Wednesday!
One-Day Registration is available! Register now
here
.
Check out the 2018 Annual Conference Social Media
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The League's Local Government 101 Workshop
Municipal officials and staff with years of experience attending Local Government 101 may find themselves sitting next to elected officials and staff who are brand-new to government. In this popular one-day workshop you’ll learn about city and village powers including municipal home rule, hear about how to recognize and avoid conflicts of interest, go home with a quick tutorial on municipal budgeting as well as how to run a meeting and finish with an overview on managing public works projects. In addition, you’ll have that age-old question answered: “What is a walking quorum anyway?”
Only ONE of the six one-day Workshops remain!
September 13 - Waupaca: Par 4 Resort.
Details and registration
here
!
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Wisconsin's Changing Workforce, Broadband and State Budget Review
are the issues in the latest
#LocalGovMatters
podcasts. Listen to all episodes
here
or wherever you get your podcasts
.
The #LocalGovMatters Podcast is a partnership between the League, the Wheeler Report, Inc. and the Wisconsin Counties Association. You can listen on your PC or smartphone.
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