WTA Press Release on Opposition to Proposal for
County Property Tax Assessment & Boards of Review
(3/2/15) A provision in the proposed 2015-17 state budget for Wisconsin includes the elimination of assessors, property tax assessment and boards of review at the local level in favor of a system implemented at the county level. Please see the WTA materials below in opposition to this proposal.
WTA Sample Resolution Opposing Proposed County Assessment
WTA Press Release on Assessment/BOR Proposal
WTA Executive Director Mike Koles' talking points
2015 WTA District Meetings
(1/22/15) WTA will be holding 13 of our annual District Meetings this year and we hope to see you at a location in your area. Please see the information below:
CLICK HERE to see a list of the 2015 WTA District Meeting dates, locations & directions.
CLICK HERE to see the 2015 WTA District Meeting Registration Form.
CLICK HERE to see the 2015 WTA District Meeting Agenda.
Materials from Feb. 17 IOH Webinar
Recorded Session Now Available
(3/2/15) CLICK HERE for a link to the web site containing the materials from the recent webinar on IOH permitting.
While there click on the .wmv file to watch and listen to the recorded IOH webinar.
2015 68th Annual WTA Convention
(1/22/15) A list of hotels and contact information for the 2015 68th Annual WTA Convention is now available if you CLICK HERE.
Hotels will take reservations beginning on noon on January 15, 2015. The convention is from Sunday October 25th through Tuesday October 27th at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells.
2015 WTA Scholarship Competition
(1/16/15) CLICK HERE for a brochure describing the rules for the 2014 Wisconsin Towns Association Scholarship Program, funded together with our scholarship partners Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Scott Construction, Inc. All applicants must be graduating from a Wisconsin public or private high school in 2015 and plan to attend a Wisconsin public or private college or vocational technical institute in 2015. Several prizes will be awarded.
This year's topic is: "Why is town road investment important to economic development in Wisconsin?" The deadline for submissions is May 30th, 2015. Good luck to all applicants! CLICK HERE for the application form to be sent in together with the essay and CLICK HERE if you would like to see the cover letter sent to schools.
Local Government Issues Featured
Recently on Wisconsin Eye
(12/19/14) Wisconsin Eye recently interviewed the Executive Directors from the three local government associations in Wisconsin. You can view a few minutes of the 30 minute show if you CLICK HERE or the entire show if you CLICK HERE.
WTA Executive Director, Mike Koles, is featured in the short clip responding to the question about WTA legislative priorities: “Transportation is our #1 issue... There are a couple of watershed moments we’re embarking on. One of them is transportation. Are we going to fund transportation in a long term, equitable, and sustainable manner? The local control issue is going to come up as well, and, for us, we believe strongly in local control and I’m looking forward to the discussion.”
Local Government Institute Study
on Local Transportation Issues & Needs
(12/19/14) “The Local Government Institute (LGI), which includes the Wisconsin Counties Association, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Towns Association commissioned and released a Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance report entitled Filling the Potholes: A New Look at Funding Local Transportation in Wisconsin on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. The study was intended to look at the issues impacting the funding of local transportation budgets and develop recommendations for fixing the problem.
“This report shows what we’ve already known, that manufacturing, farming, and trucking make up a larger share of jobs and wages that any other state except Indiana,” said Wisconsin Towns Association Executive Director Mike Koles. “In addition, strong roads boost our $11 billion tourism industry. For Wisconsin to grow and thrive, we can’t wait any longer to invest in our infrastructure.”
Please click on any of the below links to see further information:
A 3-minute video commissioned to summarize the topic
The press conference on Wisconsin Eye
LGI Board Member Bill Mielke's interview on Wisconsin Eye
Wisconsin Towns Association announces
2015-16 Legislative Priorities
(12/8/14) The Wisconsin Towns Association now has ready its list of legislative priorities for the the 2015-16 session. To see a list of those, please CLICK HERE.
Executive Director’s Fall Town and Village Workshop Message
(9/30/14) Executive Director, Mike Koles, was unable to attend all of the Fall Workshops. UW-Extension produced a video that was played in Mike’s absence. A number of you have requested to have this video posted to the web. You can view Mike’s introductory message to participants in the workshops, which also is a general introduction of himself, by viewing the You Tube video that is linked below.
NATaT Legislative Update
(12/17/14) WTA posts weekly legislative updates from the National Association of Towns and Townships. Please see the current as well as past issues on the Legislative page.
Propane Crisis Information Updates -
Governor Scott Walker Announces
Opening of New Propane Terminal
(10/31/14) Persistent very cold weather has created an ongoing propane crisis in Wisconsin of exploding prices and short supplies needed to keep homes and businesses warm. Please click on the below items for the latest updates on what the state government is doing on this issue:
Opening of New Propane Terminal in Wisconsin
Buying Propane - Consumer Tips
Reliable Home Heating Act Signed
Midwestern Governor's Association Propane Working Group
USDA Rural Development Grant Program for Farmers
Governor's Emergency Order #132
Press Release Regarding Governor's Emergency Order #132
Comprehensive update from the Dept. of Administration 4-4-14
Update from the Governor's Office on Available Resources 2-10-14
Utilities to Provide Propane to Help Low Income Citizens 2-20-14
State Donates an Additional $500,000 to the Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund 4-11-14
In addition, Governor Walker signed the following bill into law on Thursday March 27th, 2014:
Assembly Bill 770 – creates an emergency heating assistance loan guarantee program. It will allow families to obtain financing of up to $2,500 through a participating lender with a guarantee of 50 to 80 percent on original amount borrowed. Assembly Bill 770 makes financing more affordable by providing a one-time payment of 3.5 percent to reduce the interest rate on the loan. The bill passed the Assembly 94-1 and unanimously passed the Senate; it is Act 175.