JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO BEGIN VOTING ON STATE BUDGET THURSDAY; SHARED REVENUE ON AGENDA
The Legislature's budget writing committee will begin formulating its version of the state budget when it holds its first executive (voting) session on Thursday, May 9. The committee will use as its beginning point the adjusted base budget, rather than the Governor's recommended budget. Although the Governor's budget recommendations will be before the committee, it will take a motion and a majority vote to include any of the Governor's provisions into the committee's version of the bill. For example, the 2% bump in shared revenue recommended by the Governor will require a budget amendment passed by a majority vote of the committee to include in the committee's version of the budget.  

Action Alert on Shared Revenue: Shared revenue is one of the items the JFC will consider on May 9. The Governor proposes a 2 percent ($15 million) increase in program funding to take effect in 2020. This would be the first increase in shared revenue in many years. Over the last 18 years, the program on the municipal side has been cut by $94 million. Under the Governor's proposal each municipality would receive a 2 percent increase over the amount it received in 2019. 
 
Click on the link below to send an email to your state legislators urging them to encourage JFC members to add the 2 percent increase in shared revenue funding back into the state budget.
DARK STORE AND 2 PERCENT LEVY LIMIT FLOOR REMOVED FROM STATE BUDGET
Last week, the Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs released a memo proposing to remove 131 items from Governor Evers' recommended budget, including the following items the League supports:

  • $40 million in funding for Lead service line replacement.
  • Levy Limits -- 2% minimum allowable increase.
  • Dark Store and Walgreens fix.
  • Repeal of prohibition on using eminent domain for bike and recreational paths. 

The list also included the following two items the League opposed in Governor Evers' budget proposal:

  • 20% cap on TIF developer cash grants.
  • Restoration of prevailing wage requirements on municipal construction projects. 

Read the joint memo here.
LEAGUE DISTRIBUTES THREE DARK STORE/WALGREENS UPDATES TO LEGISLATORS IN APRIL
Last month, the League distributed three memos to state legislators informing them about recent dark store court decisions in Wisconsin and how other states assess Walgreens and other leased commercial properties. They are linked below. Please feel free to share them with your citizens and local media.



PARTICIPATE IN MAY 22 LOBBY DAY
YOUR MILEAGE AND PARKING WILL BE REIMBURSED
The League will reimburse the mileage and parking expenses for all officials and staff from member municipalities who participate in the League's Lobby Day in Madison on Wednesday, May 22.

This is the League's largest lobbying event of the legislative session. Interact face-to-face with legislators in the state Capitol and at lunch. The day begins at 9:00 and includes a legislative briefing before walking to the Capitol for legislative meetings. The day ends with lunch at Monona Terrace. Governor Evers has been invited to speak at lunch. Please join us for some or all of the day.
(Use the Public Registration Button)
This event is free for officials & staff of League member municipalities. The League will reimburse members' mileage and parking expenses.
IN THE NEWS 

Our Shared Constituency
"Over the last few weeks, the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance held hearings in Oak Creek, Janesville, River Falls and Green Bay. At each location local leaders welcomed the committee and offered comments about the challenges municipalities face in dealing with the triple-whammy of sub-inflationary levy limits, declining shared revenue and increasing costs for infrastructure and essential services." Read the post on Jerry's Local Perspective blog and subscribe.

Wisconsin regulators to review denial of Milwaukee solar project, decline to rule on legality of third-party financing
“What We Energies did has chilled every third-party municipal solar deal that we were aware of,” he said. “Everybody’s waiting for this to be resolved.”

A wide array of interest groups — including the city of Milwaukee, clean energy advocates, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards — filed comments in support of Eagle Point’s petition. Read the article in the State Journal.

#LocalGovMatters was on location at the Green Bay State Budget hearing. The Wheeler Report's Gwyn Guenther interviewed Green Bay Mayor Genrich, Brown County Executive Streckenbach, Rep. Evan Goyke on criminal justice reform and Senator Stroebel about closing the dark store loopholes.

You can listen to it on your PC or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. The #LocalGovMatters podcast is brought to you by the League in partnership with the Wheeler Report and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
RECENTLY INTRODUCED BILLS

SB 193, Authorizes a municipality to allow its electors to vote before election day by using an electronic voting machine to cast an in-person absentee ballot. By Sen. Craig (R-Big Bend) and Rep. Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) The League supports this bill. Comment to the League on this bill.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON MUNICIPAL BILLS

SB 71, State aids for local governments required to conduct certain special elections. By Senate Committee on Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m. in room 425 Southwest, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.

SB 108, Clarifying process for filling vacancies in city and village elective offices. By Senate Committee on Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m. in room 425 Southwest, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.

AB 159, Authorizing operation of electric scooters on highways. By Assembly Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill. 

AB 141, Clarifying due dates for paying property taxes. By Assembly Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill. 

AB 150, Requiring Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse municipalities $5 per grave annually for costs incurred in the care of veterans' graves. By Assembly Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. T he League is neutral on this bill. 

AB 193, Authorizing local governments to establish a biennial budget procedure. By Assembly Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill. 

SB 105 , Exempting Local Governments from the Fair Dealership Law. By Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 411 South, State Capitol. The League initiated this legislation.

SB 178, Authorizing local governments to establish a biennial budget procedure. By Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 411 South, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.

SB 60, Making Adjustments to 2017 Wisconsin Act 184 relating to time frame for reports for sexually violent persons petitioning for supervised release; and placement of sexually violent persons on supervised release. By Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on Tuesday, May 7, at 1:00 p.m. on room 201 Southeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.