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League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Ph: (608) 267-2380
(800) 991-5502
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Governor's Budget Bill Cuts Harbor Assistance Program
The budget bill, AB 21/SB 21, significantly reduces funding for DOT's Harbor Assistance Program. The program is usually funded by a combination of segregated transportation fund dollars and general bonding authority. In the 2013-2015 budget, the program was funded by $1.3 million in segregated dollars and $15.9 million in bonding authority. The Governor's 2015-2017 budget bill, retains the $1.3 million in SEG funding, but entirely eliminates the bonding authority. So, the total amount proposed for the Harbor Assistance Program in the upcoming biennium is $1.3 million. [The League opposes the cut in funding for this small but important program.]
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Public Hearings on the State Budget Begin this Week
The Joint Finance Committee begins a series of four public hearings on the Governor's 2015-2017 state budget bill, AB 21/SB 21, tomorrow in Brillion. The dates and locations of all four public hearings are provided below:
March 18, Brillion High School, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
March 20, Alverno College, Milwaukee, 10 - 5.
March 23, U.W. Barron County, Rice Lake 10 - 5.
March 26, Reedsburg High School 9:30 - 4:00.
Municipal officials planning to testify at these hearings should review the League's analysis of the Governor's budget bill posted on our web site, here.
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League Seeks Clarification from the Courts Regarding Federal Privacy Law versus Wisconsin's Open Records Law
League Executive Director Jerry Deschane has authored a Sunshine Week op-ed informing the public that the League is doing all it can to seek clarification from the Wisconsin Supreme Court on the conflict between the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act and Wisconsin's open records law. Read Jerry's op-ed here.
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Recently Introduced Legislation
AB 87, Buy Local Policies. Requires any state agency making purchases to attempt to ensure that at least 20 percent of the total amount expended for such procurement in each fiscal year is from Wisconsin-based businesses and that, in any fiscal year, the percentage of the total amount expended from Wisconsin-based businesses will not be lower than it was in the previous fiscal year. Also, sets a goal that at least 20 percent of the aggregate value of the annual purchases of products and services by a local government will be from Wisconsin-based businesses. Rep. Genrich (D-Green Bay) introduced this bill. The League has not yet taken a position on this bill. Send comments to League staff about this bill
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Hearings on Municipal Bills
No hearings on municipal bills are scheduled for this week.
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