2007-2008 Issues
SEEK PUBLIC
NOTICE COMPROMISE
THAT INFORMS PUBLIC, SAVES MONEY
To better serve the public’s right to know in the
information age, the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities seeks a compromise
with the Wisconsin Newspaper Association to keep the public informed of
the activities of local government while reducing the cost to taxpayers
for doing so.
It’s been years since state government published the full text of laws
in the official state newspaper. If it’s good enough for state
government, it should be good enough for local government.
In 2004, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities surveyed its cities and
villages on their cost of publishing legal notices. The 368 responding
municipalities reported spending in 2003 a total of $2 million on all
types of legal notices. The cost of publishing new ordinances and many
other legal notices is paid directly by the property taxpayer.
While newspapers argue that legal notices serve the essential function
of notifying citizens of the activities of government, many local
officials believe they are not getting the bang for the tax dollar they
spend on legal ads.
| To reduce that cost, many communities have reduced the
length of published meeting minutes to bare-bones outlines of what
happened, which does little to inform the public. In addition, newspaper consolidation is creating additional costs for cash-strapped local officials. In some Milwaukee suburbs, local officials no longer have the option of publishing a notice in their local paper, but must instead publish in an entire chain. A single Alliance member is faced with an additional $7,000 in costs. Multiply that by 40, and you’re starting to talk real money. The Alliance of Cities believes in informing citizens as fully as possible, with comprehensive information about the workings of cities. |
|
The Alliance also believes that legal notices Wisconsin newspapers print
in a type size that older adults can’t read without a magnifying glass —
5 1/2 points, or 1/14 of an inch — doesn’t perform this function.
Like the Alliance, the League believes there is a more efficient,
effective and less costly way to inform the public about newly enacted
ordinances and other actions.