SB 117 passes Senate Committee on 5-0 vote; 
Companion AB 260 has already passed the Assembly

 

(03/04/10)  SB 117 passed a Senate committee on a 5-0 vote in favor; next step is to schedule a Senate floor vote.  Click here to read Exec. Dir. Stadelman's Action Alert on the next phase of this WTA legislative priority.  The Assembly companion bill AB 260 has already been through committee and approved by voice vote on the Assembly floor.   WTA members are needed to keep up the momentum!

 

WTA Scholarship Program for High School’s Graduating Seniors


(02/10/10)  The WTA scholarship information for 2010 is now available.  All applicants must be graduating from a Wisconsin public or private high school in 2010 and plan to attend a Wisconsin public or private college or vocational technical institute in 2010.  Students compete by submitting an essay on the following topic:

 

“How can towns and villages better utilize intergovernmental cooperation with other units of government to improve service in the 21st century?”

 

The deadline for submissions is May 26, 2010.  WTA thanks the scholarship co-sponsors Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Scott Construction, Inc., as well as all of the WTA members who generously contribute to fund these scholarships.

Click here for a brochure with full details.

 

 

 Free Form C and Form CT Training

 

(02/04/10)  The WI Dept. of Revenue is offering FREE town officer training for the important Forms C & CT.  Click here for the announcement and scheduled locations this March.
 

 

Towns Thanked for Help in Opposing County Assessment Proposal

 

(02/03/10) WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman has reported that as of January 26, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s (DOR) proposal to move the assessment of real and personal property from the town, village and city level to the county level is dead for this legislative session. He thanked town and village boards that adopted resolutions opposing it (a copy of the sample reoluation is available here). A bill draft was posted by DOR on its website and the agency has released a summary of its proposal. The DOR is expected to push the idea again in the future and the WTA, the Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers and other stakeholders will closely monitor developments. Local officials are also asked to express their concerns about the plan to legislative candidates. More information can be found in the December WTA magazine and by linking to an article by Rick Stadelman.  

 

2010 District Meetings Agenda Announced


(01/18/10)  For 2010 WTA will do a series of 16 District Meetings across Wisconsin, starting in January and lasting through March.  This year's training will focus on Board of Review, the new changes made to the Prevailing Wage Rate law and a Legislative Update.  For details of the agenda, a copy of the registration form, meeting locations and directions please click here.  


(02/09/10)  Page 147 of the BOR materials:  click here to get the missing page from the Ripon meeting.  WTA regrets that oversight. 

 

  WisLine Teleconferences Address Planning, Elections & Other Issues Facing Towns


(12/19/09) Town officials are encouraged to take advantage of live WisLine teleconferences offered by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Local Government Center and cosponsored by WTA. They offer a convenient, low-cost was to learn from presenters who have expert knowledge on a range of topics. Live WisLine teleconference broadcasts originate from the Pyle Center in Madison and are distributed to county Extension offices throughout the state. Each year several WisLine series begin in the fall and continue through the following May or June. Four programs of special interest to town leaders are currently being offered:

 

Information and copies of brochures may also be obtained from your local county University of Wisconsin-Extension office. Registration questions may be addressed to lgc@uwex.edu, or you may call (608) 262-9961. WisLine programs are also archived for later use. If you have never attended a Local Government Center WisLine program, learn more about them at the All About WisLines page.

 

  Funds Available to Promote Energy Efficient Business Opportunities 


(07/27/09) Wisconsin will receive $28 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for its State Energy Program (SEP). The funds are the first part of the $55 million in ARRA funding the state is receiving for this program. “With these funds, Wisconsin can work with state businesses and take a leadership role in clean energy manufacturing and create good jobs,” Governor Jim Doyle said. The state Department of Commerce will administer the program. Eligible activities  include: reducing fossil fuel use in manufacturing by deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; retooling Wisconsin businesses to enable them to produce components of renewable energy systems and energy efficient products; and, investing in renewable energy projects. Projects must create or retain jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fossil fuel use and/or deploy renewable energy. Applications and program information will be available at the Commerce website. For more information on the SEP, contact Amy Cumblad at Commerce or David Jenkins at the Office of Energy Independence.