Funding Wisconsin's Municipalities

A strong state and local partnership was a central theme of Jerry Deschane's conversation with Governor Tony Evers. In this special edition of the League's " The Local Perspective," Jerry and the Governor talk about everything from why the Governor ran for the office, the state budget and the gritty side of policymaking.  

Thanks to the Sun Prairie Media Center & Fitchburg's FACTv for making this on location interview possible and thanks to Community Media for the ongoing partnership. Look for "The Local Perspective" on your community media station! 
April, The Municipality , pg. 4

The Wisconsin Policy Forum studied the finance frameworks for municipalities across the United States. Their key findings include:
  • Over the last generation, property taxes have grown as a share of city and village revenues as state aid to Wisconsin municipalities has lagged.
  • Since 2006, state caps on property tax increases have slowed the growth in municipal levies and helped lower Wisconsin’s overall tax burden. However, among the 10 most property tax reliant states, Wisconsin appears to have the tightest cap on increases.

Read the Executive Summary, the Full Report and the League's statement here.

Additional Reaction to the Data and Report:
Municipal Financing: Where do we go from here?
April, The Municipality , pg. 4

The League's response to the question posed by the Wisconsin Policy Forum report "Dollars and Sense: Is it time for a new municipal financing framework in Wisconsin?" is a resounding "YES!" Jerry Deschane sits down with the Forum's Research Director Jason Stein to talk through the report and where we go from here in this month's Local Perspective. 

Thanks to Monona Community Media for directing the show.
This is the map that shows Net New Construction by county from 2006-2018   If you are impacted, help us tell your story. W e’ve created an online form with just a few questions and room for comment - that makes it easier to tell your community's levy limit story.

Read all 26 submissions to date on our "Levy Limits: It's Time for a Change" page.

City of Algoma - 0.847% | Village of Eden - 0.0% | City of Horicon - 0.162%
Village of Hortonville - 0.162% | City of Osseo - 0.350% | City of Waupaca - 0.46%
Grants, Housing, Businesses, Aid, Representation... Will Your Community Be Fully Counted?
April, The Municipality , pg. 16

Looking for resources, information and more on the US Census? If you are the person working on the census for your city/village, fill out this short survey and stay up to date. The information, targeted for local governments comes to you from the National League of Cities and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. 
Why Census? Wisconsin Data

  • Wisconsin Quick Facts
  • Community Facts - Find popular facts (population, income, etc.) and frequently requested data about your community.
  • Wisconsin Historical Society Census Records The Wisconsin Historical Society has census records for the U.S. (1790-1940), Wisconsin (1836-1905) and Canada (1836-1901). The Society also owns special U.S. Federal Schedules for Wisconsin including Mortality, Agricultural, Veterans and Industrial. Censuses are official, periodic counts of populations including such information as age, gender and occupation.
Comprehensive Plan Amendments
April, The Municipality , pg. 22

Question Presented: Can a common council adopt a substantial change (one that affects a land owner’s use of his or her property) to the comprehensive plan future land use map against or without a recommendation from the
plan commission? Read the article as a PDF.
Bonding/Insurance Requirements for Municipal Officials
April, The Municipality , pg. 18

Wisconsin law requires that certain municipal officers be covered by either a bond or a dishonesty insurance or other appropriate insurance policy. The purpose of requiring such bonds or insurance policies is to protect the municipality and its taxpayers against any loss of public funds that might occur if a public officer engages in wrongdoing and fails to faithfully perform the duties of his or her office. Read the article as a PDF.
Creative Economy Week is May 11-18
Please Adopt the Proclamation!

The League is excited to be partnering with Arts Wisconsin for the fourth Annual Creative Economy Week May 11-18.

Many of you are celebrating the Creative Economy in, well, very creative ways. Please also adopt the Proclamation here !
Join Us!
You can Register Now!
May 22 is Municipal Government & Utility Day
Learn more and register   here .
(Use the Public Registration Button)
This event is free for Local Officials & Staff of League member municipalities.  
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?”

The League is offering six of these one-day Workshops this year:

May 10 - Pewaukee: Ingleside Hotel
May 17 - Eau Claire: Lismore Hotel
May 31 - Madison: Holiday Inn at the American Center
June 21 - Appleton: Red Lion Paper Valley
June 28 - Ashland: Best Western Chequamegon Hotel
September 13 - Waupaca: Par 4 Resort. 

Details and registration here !
The League's Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers Institute

You can Register now here .

June 5-7, 2019
The Lismore Hotel
Eau Claire, WI

Thanks to our sponsors!
The League's Municipal Attorneys Institute
Thanks to Crivello Carlson S.C. and Stafford Rosenbaum LLP for sponsoring the Institute!

June 12-14, 2019
​The Abbey Resort
Fontana, WI

The League's Assessors Institute - PLEASE NOTE!

If you haven't heard, due to the Heidel House closing, the League's 2019 Assessors Institute will be at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh. Please also note that the format of the Institute is changing from a 4-day to 3-day format this year. Institute dates are Monday, September 16 – Wednesday, September 18. 

Stay tuned! Agenda & program updates will be posted in early June.   
Human Resources 101
May 21, 1:00-2:30
(No Registration Required)
Lisa Bergersen, Human Resources Director,  City of Pewaukee   
Service Animals and the Law, Protected Classes, Affirmative Action & Racial Equity.

Sign-in information for upcoming webinars and archived webinars are here .
Joint Finance State Budget Hearing, plus former Gov. Thompson & Doyle and former West Allis Mayor Bell on the #LocalGovMatters podcasts. Listen to them here .

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.