January 9, 2002 e-newsletter
Conference Set for Feb 8
in Milwaukee
Study Shows Cost of Ignoring Regional Citizenship
A study by Myron Orfield and Tom Luce of Metropolitan Area Research Corp. has documented for seven of Wisconsin's metropolitan areas the results of policies that ignore the fact that we live and work in regionwide communities.
The study, financed by a grant from the Joyce Foundation to Wisconsin Sustainable Cities, the Alliance's educational arm, will be unveiled at a conference February 8, 2002 at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Join us for the unveiling and discussion of this research. The conference also will discuss research by The Brookings Institution that touches on the same themes.
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In southeastern Wisconsin, Orfield and Luce
found child poverty concentrated in Milwaukee, but the biggest increases in poverty in the
inner-ring suburbs. They also found concentrations of poverty and
social separation in Dane County despite the capital city region's impressive economic
growth. They describe the situation not in words, but via colored maps. In some areas, the maps show sprawl running rampant, while in others it seems to be held in check by economic forces. In each area, the study makes a powerful argument for sharing some of the growth in the region's property tax base as a device for better financing public services. |
As a conferernce participant, you will examine the studies' findings and brainstorm, list and prioritize solutions that you can take home and make part of an action plan for your community and region. For details of the conference, a description of the presenters and a printable registration form, click on the button below:
State Budget Fix
More Plans Hit Local Government
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Republican legislators have unveiled plans
to freeze local property taxes at the same time they freeze state spending and take away
the 1% state shared revenue increase scheduled for July 1. The latest blueprints for helping the state out of its budget mess -- like the $1 billion county sales tax increase proposed by political consultant Morris Andrews -- were crafted without local government input. |
| "We're not going to ask local
governments to do any more than we ourselves are doing," Rep. John Gard (R-Peshtigo)
told a news conference this afternoon. "These are not major reductions for local government," said Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-town of Brookfield). Jensen said local officials across the state will receivce letters soon asking what state mandates should be eliminated. When you receive that letter, please make sure your response includes, "Do not pass SB 157." That's the bill that would mandate health insurance coverage for mental and alcohol and oither drug abuse treatment. Jensen said he had breakfast with Gov. Scott McCallum, and the governor told him his plan would be very similar to the Assembly Republicans'. Senate Republicans also have a similar plan. For the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story on the plans, go here. (Come back with the "Back" button on your browser.) |
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911 Subcommittee Issues Report
The 911 Subcommittee of the Speaker's Telecommunications Task Force, has issued its report, essentially recommending enactment of the industry position that was proposaed a year ago, and that caused us to walk away from the table. For a copy of the subcommittee's recommendations, look here.
Feb. 19-21 in Oshkosh
Stormwater Training Conference Set
Fox-Wolf Basin 2000 is holding a conference, "Stormwater 2002: Tying The Pieces Together -- Design, Ordinances, Policies & Economics, Feb. 19-21 at the Pioneer Inn in Oshkosh.
Session topics and descriptions, the early
registration special rates, sign-up forms, online payment opportunities,
hotel discount, sponsorship and exhibit details, their first-ever pre-conference workshop
(featuring Tom "Dr. Stormwater" Schueler) -- it's all at www.fwb2k.org/basin/sw/stormwater02.htm
Waterfront Development Program Eyed
Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton) is drafting legislation to create a dstate waterfront development assistance program along the lines of the Department of Commerce's successful main Street program. Please review and forward to your development director the draft that you can find here.
Please forward your comments to Scott Becher of Wieckert's staff: scott.becher@legis.state.wi.us.
Thanks!
Bills To Watch
To help you keep informed, the bill number on the list below is a link to the bill history, which in turn includes a link to the text of the measure. The bill sponsor's name is an e-mail link which allows you to express your opinion or seek further information. Click on either. And of course, you can ask us for information on any of these measures any time. We'll try to keep you informed of pending action on bills and other Alliance issues in the "Upcoming Events" section at the bottom of this and future newsletters.
Bills we'll be watching -- and in many cases lobbying-- include:
SB 185,
SB 248, a
telephone industry bill introduced Sept. 20 by
SB 267, by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, limiting local flexibility in providing emergency medical services.
SB 350, by Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland), giving all towns village powers.
AJR 10, by Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel), a constitutional amendment to limit property tax increases by cities, villages, towns and counties for individual parcels of property.
AJR 50, by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), a constitutional amendment to restrict the state's ability to impose regional or geographically selective taxes.
AB 35, by Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield),changing the bonding requirements for city, village and county officers.
AB 113, by Rep. Scott Gunderson(R-Union Grove), prohibiting local residency requirements.
AB 399,
by Rep. Donald Friske(R-Merrill), would
exempt cities, towns, villages and counties from paying the state gastax. It was amended
and endorsed as amended by the Assembly Transportation Committee Sept.20. Repeal of the
state gas tax for other levels of government is one of the Alliance of Cities' pro-active
issues. For more, look
AB 490, by Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield)would phase in, over a 10-year period, the transfer to the state transportation fund of all sales tax revenue from the sale of automobiles and auto parts.
AB 494, by Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Union Grove), prohibiting cities and villages from approving annexations of land in another county.
AB 501,
this session's urban towns bill, is again sponsored by
AB 510. The compromise TIF legislation passed the Assembly 93-3 Oct. 23. It was produced as a result of negotiations led by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association. It eliminates some of the damaging provisions of the legislation that came out of former Gov. Tommy Thompson's TIF working group. The compromise is sponsored by Rep. Michael "Mickey" Lehman (R-Hartford).
AB 518,
introduced by Rep. Neal Kudzu
(R-Elkhorn), is the companion bill to
AB 524, by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, limiting local flexibility in providing emergency medical services.
AB 558, by the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, benefits for those called to active duty, amended in committee to allow local governments to make up the difference between military pay and civilian pay, Signed into law.
AB 584, by Rep. Tim Hoven (R-Port Washington), on utility shared revenue payments. Adopted 96-2 in the Assembly Nov. 6.
AB 601, by Rep. Greg Huber,regional park districts.
AB 612, by Rep. Julie Lassa (D-Plover), to allow local governments to provide health insurance benefits to retired officers.
Upcoming
Events
Jan.
10 Partners in Local
Govt., City Cnty Bldg,Madison, 10:30 a.m.
Jan.
11 Centl.
Wis. Muni. Execs Candidate Interviews, UW-Marshfield.
Feb. 7-8 Alliance mtg, Wis. Metropatterns
Conference. Marquette University.
Feb. 19-21 Stormwater Conference,
Pioneer Inn, Oshkosh
June 13-14 Alliance meeting, Madison, in conjunction
with the...
June 14-18 U.S. Conference of Mayors, Madison
THE WISCONSIN ALLIANCE OF CITIES
14 West Mifflin Street Suite 206
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
(608) 257-5881
