February 21, 2022 | Number 57 |
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WI Elections Commission Communication to Clerks on
Drop Boxes
On February 16th, WEC issued a Statement to Clerks – providing notification of WEC’s withdrawal of their prior Interpretation of Wis. Stat. §§ 6.87 and 6.855, relating to using drop boxes to collect absentee ballots. The action and statement to clerks was in reaction to a Waukesha County Circuit Court decision concluding that WEC's prior advice and interpretation was invalid. You can read the memoranda issued by WEC on February 16, 2022 here.
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Both Houses in Session, Voting on Several Bills this Week
The Senate will be in session on Tuesday at 11:00 am. See the Senate calendar here. The Assembly will also be on the floor Tuesday at 1:00 pm. See the Assembly calendar here.
The following municipal bills are scheduled to be voted on this week:
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SB 900, Great Lakes and Commercial Rivers Historic Fill. The Senate bill vote on the Substitute amendment. This is a League initiated bill.
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SB 835, Local Land Use Regulations. Compromise legislation between the League and the Towns Association. This is a League initiated bill.
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SB 934-SB 946. Various Election Reform Bills.
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AB 251, Impersonating a Public Officer, Public Employee, or Employee of a Utility and Providing a Penalty. The League supports this bill.
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AB 610, Prohibiting Certain Property Tax Assessment Practices. Even as amended the League opposes this bill.
Wisconsin Eye will be airing the the Senate and Assembly floor sessions on Tuesday.
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More EMS Funding On The Way
On the heels of increased Medicaid reimbursement in the state budget, Governor Evers used his State of the State address to launch his plan to invest nearly $30 million to support and expand Wisconsin’s emergency medical services (EMS) systems across the state. Wisconsin relies on nearly 800 EMS providers, and more than half are either operated exclusively by volunteers or through a combination of volunteers and paid staff.
The investment includes $20 million, provided through the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, that will go to EMS providers across the state for whatever help they need the most, whether it’s increasing staffing support, more training for first responders, or purchasing an ambulance, medical equipment, or supplies. Of that $20 million, $8 million will go to the Funding Assistance Program (FAP) which provides annual grants to all public ambulance service providers, including volunteer fire departments, nonprofits, and counties and municipalities. This investment will bring the total funding available to those eligible providers to $10.2 million for fiscal year 2023. The remaining $12 million of the new investment will be provided as one-time, flexible grants, prioritizing small, under-resourced EMS providers who do not qualify for FAP to use for whatever they need, including staffing, equipment, supplies, or other expenses.
The new hub was developed to help public works understand the new law and learn how to access federal funding of this historic investment of $1.2 trillion in our nation's infrastructure that will be coming over the next five years.
Everything you want and need to know about the bipartisan infrastructure law:
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Information about the law itself
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Featured webinars, resources, and important deadlines
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Federal IIJA resources focusing on transportation, water resiliency, emergency management, and more
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Access to APWA's weekly emailed Washington Report, providing the latest developments on the IIJA and other legislative and regulatory issues impacting public works
Make sure to bookmark this page and visit often, as it will be continually updated with more information, links, and resources as they become available.
ICYMI - New Zoning Guide for Affordable Housing
now Available
After a year in the making, the League is happy to announce that a Wisconsin-specific guide for helping communities adjust their zoning codes to remove obstacles to the creation of affordable housing is now available to download from the League’s website.
Listen to Jerry Deschane discuss the Guide this afternoon on Wisconsin Public Radio's Central Time.
Help us spread the word!
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Facebook: Click here to like, comment and share news of the Guide from the League's Facebook page.
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Twitter: Click here to Tweet it.
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LinkedIn: Click here to like, comment and share it from the League's LinkedIn page.
Municipal Officials - UW-Extension would love your feedback!
UW Extension, in partnership with the League, Towns and Counties Associations, is trying to get an accurate “temperature” of how things are going at local elected body meetings. The survey is brief and easy to complete. Please also pass it on to other officials. We’d like to increase the number to get a clear picture across the entire state.
Take the survey. P.S., Please don’t delay; this survey will only be open for a few more days. We need your feedback.
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RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION |
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AB 1048, Eliminating the Personal Property Tax. Under the bill, beginning with the property tax assessments as of January 1, 2022, no items of personal property will be subject to the property tax. Beginning in 2023, and in each year thereafter, the state will pay each taxing jurisdiction an additional amount equal to the property taxes levied on the items made exempt under the bill for the property tax assessments as of January 1, 2021. By Representative Knodl (R-Germantown) and Senator Jacque (R-DePere). The League is monitoring this bill.
SB 1000, Actions by Local Health Officers. Under this bill, a local health officer's action related to infectious disease may not exceed 60 days. The governing body of the applicable local governmental unit, however, may terminate early or extend the action after the governing body's committee with jurisdiction over health has held a public hearing on the action. By Senator Jagler (R-Watertown) and Representative Penterman (R-Columbus). The League is reviewing this bill.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK |
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IN THE NEWS
(Paywalls may apply)
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Wisconsin groups offer new 'cookbook' to spur affordable housing development. Here's the recipe Read the article.
Click here to like, comment or share this article on the League's Facebook page.
Click here to comment and share the article on the League's LinkedIn page.
New affordable housing push includes how-to guide for communities statewide Read the article.
Collaboration Will Equip Water Systems Across Wisconsin with Resources and Tools to Comply with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Read the article.
The witness was who? Missing space for printed name conflicts with state law Read the article.
Evers continues to spearhead plans for budget surplus spending despite Republican opposition Read the article.
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2nd Tuesday of every month.
March 8, 2022, 12:00-1:00 via Zoom
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Human Resources for Small Communities
Tuesday, March 8, 9, 10, & 11, 2022 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM via Zoom
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
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The League's Chief Executives Workshop
March 22, 23 and 24 - Virtual - $50.
Magnetic Communities, Solving the Daycare Dilemma, Grants Panel.
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The League's Building Inspectors Institute
April 20-22, 2022
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan
Attendees will receive: 12 Commercial Building, 12 UDC Building and 6 UDC HVAC credits
The League's Plumbing Inspectors Institute
April 20-22, 2022
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan
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Sign up now for the League's Popular Local Government 101
Workbook included for ALL participants - print or USB.
Via Zoom:
May 6 - Webinar
September 9 - Webinar
If you register for the Local Govt 101 webinar, you can participate in any of the Local Govt webinars within a year from your registration. Mix and match the four segments - take them all in one-day or attend when you can.
In-person:
May 13, 2022 – Eau Claire, The Lismore Hotel
June 3, 2022 – Madison Marriott West
September 16, 2022 – Milwaukee - TBD
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Email questions or comments to:
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