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League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Ph: (608) 267-2380
(800) 991-5502
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Hearings this Week on Several Municipal Bills
On Wednesday, May 3, the Assembly Local Government Committee is holding a public hearing on the following three bills the League helped get introduced:
AB 168, Changing the requirement that certain city and village officials must execute and file an official bond.
AB 145, Modernizing the methods by which a mayor may inform council members of a special meeting.
AB 229, Allowing local governments to invest surplus money in time deposits (e.g., certificates of deposit) without limit on the duration of the investment.
Also on May 3 a Senate committee is holding a public hearing at 12:00 on SB 122, the Senate companion bill to AB 168, making oficial bonds optional if the municipality has purchased employee dishonesty insurance coverage.
League staff will be testifying in support of all four bills. Municipal officials from various communities have also committed to attending the hearings and testifying in support of the bills.
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Finance Committee Begins Voting on State Budget Today
This afternoon at 2:00 the Legislature's budget writing committee meets to begin voting on making changes to Governor Walker's proposed state budget. The Joint Finance Committee plans to meet at least 11 times in May and early June to produce its own version of the state's 2017-2019 state budget.
The is set to review 10 topics today, including the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Bonding Authority and Clean Water Fund Program Loan Interest Rates and Bonding Authority.
After the committee completes its work on the state budget in early June, it will refer an amended budget to both houses of the Legislature for consideration. The Legislature's goal is to pass a state budget bill by the end of June for the Governor to sign into law by July 1.
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Join us for Municipal Government and Utility Day on May 10 in Madison
All city and village officials and staff are invited to participate in a half day of advocacy and networking in Madison on May 10. The League is teaming up this year with several other municipal organizations, including Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Rural Water Association, MEG -- Water, MEG -- Wastewater, and the Wisconsin Transportation Development Association for the first ever Municipal Government and Utility Day at the state capitol.
The theme for the day is investing in municipal infrastructure drives the state's economy forward.
Agenda for May 10:
9:00 -- 9:30 -- Breakfast, Welcome and Review of the Day's Agenda and Goals. -- Monona Terrace Convention Center
9:30 -10:30 -- Divide into municipal and utility groups and receive briefings from staff on issues to discuss with legislators -- Monona Terrace Convention Center
10:30 -- 12:30 -- Participate in meetings with your State Senator and State Representative and/or their staff in the State Capitol
12:30 -- 1:45 -- Lunch with Legislators; presentation by Larry Gigerich, Executive Managing Director, Ginovus, a national economic development consulting firm -- Monona Terrace and Convention Center
Lunch Only Option. If you are unable to attend the morning events, then please join us for the legislative luncheon. Register for l
unch only
here
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No Cost. There is no cost for municipal officials and staff to attend the luncheon or to participate in any aspect of the Municipal Government and Utility Day at the State Capitol.
Register for the full May 10 Municipal Government and Utility Day here!
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In the News
Indiana Gov. signs road plan with 10-cent gas hike
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday signed into law a two-year budget and an infrastructure plan featuring tax and fee hikes to pay for improvements. Holcomb and Republican legislative leaders trumpeted both bills at a signing ceremony in the Statehouse on Thursday. They said the roads plan will "drive Indiana to the next level."
Read more here...
New bill would require voter OK on wheel taxes
Lori Palmeri, an Oshkosh Common Council member, said though a required referendum may not prevent Oshkosh from pursuing the measure, it's frustrating that state lawmakers are intervening on the issue.
"I'm disappointed because it's a preemption of local control," Palmeri said. "It's not burdensome to the point where we shouldn't do it."
Read more here...
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Join the Lobby Team
May 10: Municipal Government & Utility Day (Lobby Day & Legislative Luncheon)
This year's Municipal Government & Utility Day on May 10 is a collaborative effort powered by the League, Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW),Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA), Wisconsin Water Association (WWA), The Wisconsin Transportation Development Association, and Municipal Environmental Group Water and Wastewater Divisions.
All city and village officials, as well as municipal utility managers, commissioners, and staff are invited to participate in this lobbying and networking event. Join us for a morning spent on educating and advocating state legislators about municipal needs. There will be special focus on promoting the critical role quality municipal infrastructure plays in advancing the state's economy. The event also includes a lunch with your state legislators.
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Recently Introduced Legislation
AB 277
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Eliminating the Personal Property Tax and Making an Appropriation.
This bill exempts all personal property from taxation beginning with January 1, 2018 property tax assessments. Improvements on leased land would be assessed as real property beginning with the tax exemption. The bill creates a sum sufficient appropriation and state aid payment for revenue losses resulting from the exemption of personal property. The bill also sets the exempt computer aid payment to the amount determined in 2017.
By Sen. Stroebel (R-Saukville).
The League neither supports nor opposes this bill. (While we appreciate that the bill includes state aid payments to make local governments whole, those payments are frozen at 2018 personal property tax revenues. We also have concerns about how long the state will abide by its commitment and the negative implications the repeal has for TIF districts.)
Comment to the League about this bill
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AB 168, Changing the requirement that certain city and village officials must execute and file an official bond. By Assembly Committee on Local Government, Wednesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. in room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
AB 145, Modernizing the methods by which a mayor may inform council members of a special meeting. By By Assembly Committee on Local Government, Wednesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. in room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
AB 229, Allows local governments to invest surplus money in financial institutions' time deposits without limit on the duration of the investment. By By Assembly Committee on Local Government, Wednesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. in room 400 Northeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
SB 122, Changing the requirement that certain city and village officials must execute and file an official bond. By Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government, Wednesday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. in room 300 Southeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.
SB 158, Allowing a property owner who refuses to allow an assessor to view the interior of his or her home for assessment purposes to nevertheless appear before the board of review. By Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government, Wednesday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. in room 300 Southeast, State Capitol. The League opposes this bill.
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