Archived Materials

Archived Materials

New Levy Limit Provision Included in Budget

(11/16/07) Governor James Doyle signed the State Budget bill (SB 40) today, Friday, October 26, 2007. He used his veto pen to partially veto the levy limits as passed by the State Legislature which increases from the conference committee report the limit local governments may raise their local levies “for 2007 tax levy collected in 2008 (this year) to the greater of 3.86% or the percentage of change in the political subdivisions’ January 1 equalized value due to new construction less improvements removed between the previous year and the current year.” The levy limit for the 2008 tax levy collected in 2009 (next year) will be the greater of 2.0% or the percentage of net new construction.” Click here for more information from WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman. Click here for revised 2007 Levy Limit worksheets from the state Department of Revenue.

Transportation Aid Data Available Online

(10/27/07) The Department of Transportation has posted 2008 General Transportation Aids for each community on its website. The amounts are listed alphabetically by county (ie. Adams County to Wood County) and each town, village and city is listed in alphabetical order within each county. If you have trouble accessing this file online or cannot seem to find your town, please contact WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman. He notes that towns can use these amounts for local budgeting purposes.

Two Model Alcohol Licensing Ordinances Available

(08/16/07) Two Sample Alcohol Licensing Ordinances are now available for use by towns from the WTA. The sample ordinances were prepared by WTA Legal Counsel Carol Nawrocki. One is a Sample Temporary Retail Alcohol License Ordinance and the other is a Sample Provisional Operators License Ordinance.

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training & Compliance Requirements Outlined

(07/05/07) While most emergency situations are handled locally, major incidents may require help from other jurisdictions, including state and federal resources. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was developed to enable responders from different jurisdictions and disciplines to respond more effectively to natural disasters and other emergencies. NIMS includes: a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid and resource management. Click here to see a column by WTA General Legal Counsel Carol Nawrocki summarizing key training and compliance issues. She also provides links to helpful resources.

Congress Considering Limits on Local Use of Eminent Domain Powers

(07/02/07) The National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) warns that two bills pending in Congress would impose federal controls on the use eminent domain by local governments. Recent abusive uses of eminent domain in other parts of the country have sparked popular support for such limitations. NATaT is working with other local government organizations to resist the legislation, noting that communities rely on eminent domain to redevelop blighted areas, improve transportation systems and respond to other important local needs. Click here to see an informative NATaT column summarizing recent developments and outlining what towns can do to preserve this tradition local authority.

Online Agricultural Emergency Resources Listed by UW-Extension

(06/04/07) Town governments can play an essential part in responding to agricultural and other emergencies and the UW-Extension has compiled a list of web resources for use by town leaders to prepare to play this role effectively. The list is an outgrowth of feedback to a presentation on agricultural emergencies at last October’s WTA Annual Meeting. Online resources (and access to assistance) are available to address all elements of emergency readiness: awareness, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

E-Mails Outline WTA Position on Transportation Aids and Other Key Budget Issues

(05/11/07) WTA Executive Director has released three e-mails sent to legislators clarifying WTA positions on major budget issues of concern to towns: E-Mail re. General Budget Issues; E-Mails re. General Transportation Aid and Levy Limit Exclusion for Fire Protection.

UTC Meeting Highlights Extraterritorial City & Village Powers

(04/28/07) Several dozen Urban Towns Committee (UTC) members met in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, April 28 for a legislative update and a cracker-barrel session. They also heard about extraterritorial zoning and plat review powers from WTA Education Director Tom Harnisch and were briefed on the threat posed to hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin ash trees by the Emerald Ash Borer (link to http://emeraldashborer.wi.gov for information).

Town Leaders Carry WTA Message to Legislators

(03/15/07) 139 town officials from across the state gathered in Madison on Wednesday, March 14 for the 2007 WTA Capitol Day. They urged legislators and other state officials to support four high-priority town goals for the 2007 Legislative Session: Transportation aid funding at $2,000 per mile in 2008 and $2,100 in 2009; the Charter Towns Bill; town withdrawal from county zoning; and modified guidelines for developer impact fees. Click here to see photos of the event.

Working Lands Initiative Report Released

(12/18/06) Early in the summer of 2005, the Secretary of the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) formed a steering committee of 26 individuals (including WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman) to address the concerns of "sustaining working lands in Wisconsin." Click here to see Rick's article about the issue. Click here to see the report, a fact-sheet, press releases and other materials on the DATCP website.

2007-08 WTA Legislative Agenda

(11/29/06) The WTA Board of Directors has adopted a 2007-08 Legislative Agenda that highlights three key priorities that will impact the ability of towns to continue to deliver efficient, high-quality services to nearly 1.7 million state residents: 1) transportation; 2) annexation and boundary law; and 3) land use controls & impact fees. WTA will actively pursue these legislative issues in the 2007-2008 Legislative Session and will take positions on other legislation affecting towns and town residents.

New Law Makes Numerous Changes to Elections Procedures

(07/06/06) WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman has advised town and village officials to become acquainted with 2005 Wis. Act 451 (SB 681), which became effective for most provisions as of July 1, 2006 and will therefore be applicable for the September and November 2006 elections. This bill, which was the result of a Legislative Council Study Committee, makes numerous changes to technical aspects of the election law, including changes to: absentee ballot procedures; election official training and terms of appointment; posting of a map at the polling place; special provisions for absent active duty military electors in September and November elections; acceptable proofs of residency; and more. Clerks should review a complete memo available on the state Elections Board website as soon as possible to be prepared for the September primary election.

Compliance Help Available for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

(06/22/06) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a complex federal law that extends federal civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided by law to citizens on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age or religion. The goal of the law is to integrate Americans with disabilities into general society to the greatest extent feasible by requiring equal access to employment, goods and services -- including local government services. One resource available to help towns sort through ways to come into compliance with the law as efficiently as possible is the Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center, which is one of ten federally-funded projects that provide free ADA technical assistance, training and materials to local governments and others covered by the law. Contact the Center by calling 800-949-4232 or visiting their web site at http://www.adagreatlakes.org. Click here for more information about the ADA law and resources.

WTA Prepares Model Livestock Facility Ordinance

(05/29/06) WTA has prepared a sample Livestock Facility Siting Licensing ordinance and some sample livestock facility zoning language for towns and counties to use to require the "new and expanding" livestock facilities to comply with the "state standard for new and expanding livestock facilities" (e.g., new facilitiesover 500 animal units and generally expanding facilities over 1,000 animal units), under ATCP 51. It is a local option of the town or county to require these facilities to meet the new siting standards or not. The state standards do not apply unless the town or county adopt either a licensing ordinance such as provided here or incorporate the requirements in a zoning ordinance such as provided here. If you or your attorney have more questions call Rick Stadelman at (715) 526-3157.

New, Updated Financial Resource Guide for Cleanup and Redevelopment Available

(03/13/06) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Commerce have updated the Financial Resource Guide for Cleanup and Redevelopment (publication #RR-539), a comprehensive listing of funding available from state and federal sources for the cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields. The publication provides informative, one-page summaries on more than 60 grants, loans, tax incentives and reimbursement programs available from federal and state sources, and includes a quick reference chart, a how-to guide and additional web sites to help readers fund their Brownfield redevelopment projects. It is available on the DNR website.

Town Factsheets

Get the facts about Wisconsin town government

Town Leaders Should Tell Others What’s Good About Town Government

Does Wisconsin Have Too Many Local Governments?

Can Consolidation Improve Local Government?

Are Towns Inefficient?

Do We Really Need All these Small Towns and Villages?

Do Town Taxpayers Pay a Fair Share of Property Taxes?

How Can We Improve Local Government in Wisconsin?