Wisconsin Way Releases Final Report "Blueprint for Change"
 A three-year effort that engaged more than 10,000 state residents and a group of Wisconsin's most influential business, labor and policy organizations has produced a comprehensive plan to improve the fairness of Wisconsin's tax system while stimulating job growth.
The Wisconsin Way Blueprint for Change incorporates extensive survey research, dozens of public town hall forums, institutional and organizational outreach and input, and an exhaustive review of previous work by high-level commissions and policy groups. In releasing the Blueprint, leaders of the Wisconsin Way project say they hope to prompt action at the state and local level that will reduce the property tax burden, strengthen Wisconsin's economy and preserve Wisconsin's special quality of life.
Read the media release on the report here.
To
view a video on the "Blueprint for Change," as well as learn more about
the Wisconsin Way, click here.
To read an editorial on the Wisconsin Way by the La Crosse Tribune, click here.
|
WCA Commends Senator Kreitlow and Representative Seidel for Leadership and Vision on Jobs Creation Bill
Senate Bill (SB) 399, which will enhance the state's economic development efforts by giving Wisconsin businesses and local governments greater access to low-cost, tax-exempt financing, passed the Assembly on Tuesday, April 13 by a 98-0 vote.
Senate Bill 399 was one of six "job creation" bills advanced on Tuesday's calendar. The bill must receive final Senate approval before being sent to Governor Doyle for signature. The bill is authored by Senator Pat Kreitlow and Representative Donna Seidel and previously passed the Senate on a 32-0 roll call vote on March 4, 2010.
"Senator Kreitlow and Representative Seidel understand that our state needs private sector activity and growth, along with business expansion, employment opportunities and increased commerce. These are all elements of a healthy economy," said Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Executive Director Mark D. O'Connell.
He continued, "A necessary ingredient is affordable capital. Senate Bill 399 brings the power of government to the benefit of private sector economic activity and we are grateful to them for their vision, leadership and tireless work on this legislation."
Read the full WCA media release here.
|
Plan on Attending One of Seven Upcoming WCA District Meetings
Biennially following the April elections, WCA holds district meetings in each of our seven districts to update new and veteran county board supervisors and county officials on the role of the association, give legislative updates and elect members to the boards of directors for WCA and the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation. This year the district meetings will be held April 26-May 4, 2010 throughout Wisconsin. To see dates and locations, click here. |
NACo: April is County Government Month
 A terrific way to bring in spring is to show your
pride in county government by celebrating National County Government
Month (NCGM) throughout the month of April. This year's theme is "Healthy Counties."
Throughout April, counties across the country will be celebrating NCGM
by promoting their essential health care services, healthy living and
recreation programs, and other county services. It's not too late for your county to celebrate
NCGM. Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged
counties to actively promote county government services and programs. A booklet is available from NACo which provides
ideas for a variety of ways counties can participate, information about
media outreach strategies and NACo's online Media Resources Kit. The
booklet is available by contacting NACo's Public Affairs Department at
202.393.6226 or visiting the NACo Web site under County Resource Center.
Download the media kit here. NACo wants to know about your NCGM activities and programs. Send them
to Jim Philipps via fax at 202.393.2630 or e-mail at jphilipps@naco.org. |
New Funding Opportunities for Rural Counties
County governments are eligible for three recently announced funding opportunities from USDA Rural Development that address rural housing, business development, telemedicine and distance learning. These new funding opportunities represent a sample of the many USDA Rural Development programs utilized by counties. The agency also operates loan and grant programs utilized by rural communities for development of water/wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, broadband, housing, renewable energy and business development. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a leader in national efforts to bolster funding for these programs that are increasingly critical to rural counties, which are facing difficult fiscal situations. NACo is also leading efforts to ensure that USDA give priority to projects that are connected to local government priorities identified in regional development plans. In addition to the three funding opportunities, USDA Rural Development accepts applications on a rolling basis for a broad range of other programs and is still seeking to fund community facility projects with Recovery Act funding that must be utilized by September 30, 2010. The Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants to assist in the development of essential community facilities - such as county health departments, police and fire stations, schools, libraries, child care centers, and many other facility projects that counties undertake. The program also funds sidewalk construction and county fair facilities. Counties are encouraged to talk with staff from their state office to find out if their current or planned projects are eligible. Contact information for state USDA Rural Development offices is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html. |
Register Today for UIC eGovernment Workshop
WCA is partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) for their annual e-Government Workshop on May 18, 2010 in Lisle, Illinois. The UIC e-Government Workshop brings together the best and the brightest
in public service and information technology. These diverse
stakeholders from across the region, including representatives from
government, business and education, are committed to sharing government
technology solutions for operating in today's fiscal environment. The program will strongly emphasize how to deal with the difficult economy and citizen engagement through technology solutions. Dubuque, Iowa will present on its Smart City Initiative, which discusses how to produce a sustainable community using technology and citizen engagement. Other sessions will feature cost-cutting technology collaborations, web portal improvement, bridging the digital divide, technology for improved FOIA response and using Google Earth. To learn more, click here. |
NACo Annual Conference Registration Now Open
 Celebrate NACo's 75th Anniversary at the 2010 Annual Conference &
Exhibition in Reno-Washoe County, Nev. July 16-20. Registration is now open and hotel
reservation information is also available. Don't forget: You can save
$25 by registering online. To learn more, click here. |
"Get the Old Meds Out!" Workshop-May 19, 2010
The University of Wisconsin-Extension is hosting a one day conference on pharmaceutical waste on May 19th, 2010, in Milwaukee. Highlights of the program include an update on Wisconsin consumer collection programs, as well as info on other programs from around the Midwest and North America. This will also be a great opportunity to network with other midwestern local government people and discuss potential product stewardship solutions to this emerging issue.
In addition, the Midwest Product Stewardship Council is hosting a free half day pre-conference workshop in Milwaukee on May 18th. The Midwest Product Stewardship Council (MPSC) is an informal organization representing state and local government agencies that works to integrate the principles of product stewardship into the policy and economic structures of the Midwestern United States. If you'd like to find out more about this meeting or the group, please contact Cynthia Moore (cynthia.moore@wisconsin.gov) or Leslie Wilson (lwilson@co.carver.mn.us).
The May 19th workshop is $50. There are a limited number of scholarships available for government officials. For registration, program information and scholarship applications, please go to the SHWEC blog ( http://fyi.uwex.edu/shwec) and click on the "Get the Old Meds Out" tab.
|
Yes, I will Donate! New Online Registration Process for Wisconsin Donor Registry
It only takes a few minutes to complete the online registration process on the new Wisconsin Donor Registry, but by doing so you could save up to eight lives through organ donation, give sight to two people and greatly improve dozens of lives through tissue donation.
In Wisconsin, you can go to the new online registry at www.YesIWillWisconsin.com to legally authorize donation. Anyone older than age 15 1/2 with a Wisconsin driver's license or identification card can register, important even if you already have an orange donor dot on your license. You may also sign up when you apply for or renew your driver's license or ID.
Documenting your donation decision on the Donor Registry ensures that your decision is legally binding, and that decision does not require the consent of any other person. The Registry allows donation professionals to quickly confirm a person's donation decision, share that decision with a person's family, and work with them to honor that choice - saving precious minutes for those waiting for a life-saving transplant.
There are 105,000 people on waiting lists for organ donations in the U.S. and 1,500 still wait in Wisconsin. Hundreds more wait for their sight to be restored through eye donation and thousands wait for the chance to live without pain through a bone or soft tissue transplant. Eighteen people will die today because they didn't get a transplant in time. You can make a difference. Make the decision to be a donor today, and go to www.YesIWillWisconsin.com
|
|
|
To Ponder...
1954
The year Pennsylvania's eight-year political cycle began. Like
clockwork, the governorship has switched between Democrats and
Republicans every eight years since then, and has spanned 14
gubernatorial elections. The cycle, if it continues unbroken, would
indicate a Republican victory this November.
Source: Stateline.org
|
County Mutual's 2010 Highway Safety ROADeo
Register today for the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation's
2010 Highway ROADeo at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in
Wisconsin Dells on June 8, 2010. Learn more here.
|
With Days Left, Wisconsin Leads U.S. Census Returns....
As of April 13, 2010, Wisconsin led the nation with a 77 percent return rate. With days left, learn how the U.S. Census Bureau is tracking down the final hard-to-reach population: students, by clicking here.
|
Wisconsin County News Updated Daily on WCA Website
The "In the News" menu item on the WCA website highlights county news clippings from around the state on a daily basis. See today's by clicking here and be sure to check back every day!
|
|
