WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION- ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE FEBRUARY6-7, 2007 MADISON CONCOURSE HOTEL

WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION- ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE FEBRUARY6-7, 2007 MADISON CONCOURSE HOTEL

BY COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR MIKE NORTON- DISTRICT 20


The major highlight of the two-day conference occurred at the very start. When Governor Jim Doyle addressed the WCA group at Tuesday morning. The Governor unveiled a glimpse of his state budget and it was good news for taxpayers and for county government.

He stated that he will commit more than $100 million more in the budget to fund programs such as shared revenue, courts, youth services, child support and transportation.
The specific figures are $2.7 million increase in Shared Revenues for counties, $19 million increase in payments to counties for circuit court operations: $3 million increase in the Victim Witness Protection Program; $500,000 increase for court interpreters. In the transportation area $66 million for Highway Maintenance fund; $4 million increase in Mass Transit Aids; $4 increase in General Transportation Aids. In Youth Aids an increase of $27 million and in the area of Child Support the state will make up $32 million of $40 million being cut by the federal government.

In the report from our Washington lobbyists it stated that Pay as You Go Legislation was passed in both houses meaning payments for programs be spread out. The federal budget has a huge structural budget problem, for hot issues the state of Wisconsin is being penalized for being a good state. The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization a big issue this year. Same say the FY Budget is dead on arrival with SS Block Grant being cut by 30%.

A WCA Executive Director Mark O’Conner remarks where both humorous and making one think about the tax structure and study what the sales tax is applied to in the state of Wisconsin. John Voelker, Director of State Courts, went over much what the Governor was proposing in the upcoming state budget. One thing he did add worth mentioning was the State Courts were asking for a position to gather date to find out what the courts system actually costs in the state of Wisconsin.

During the conference there were two Coffee Table discussions. On Tuesday the topic s\centered around how sustainability and being eco-consensus was a benefit to the state economy. Featured was a UW-O professor and businessman fro Green Bay. The one Wednesday was on Wisconsin Tax Structure with someone from WEAC, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Mark O’Connell, and Jim Wood from wood Communications Group. Jim Wood had earlier given a presentation on polls he has conducted the last few years on “WISOCNISN PUBLIC IS READY TO CHANGE OUR TAX STRUCTURE”; the WCA is using this information for a possible legislative strategy.

There were a number of WCA legislative initiatives presented to the group before we went for capital visits. I have those if anyone wants to look them over. But I want to point out one that very own County Executive is both very knowledgeable about and has brought forward to the attention of WCA the Newark decision. We as a board passed a resolution in December to correct the loophole in the law that could revenues for all local governments. He and I visited State Senator Dave Hansen form Green Bay who said and State Senator Cowles are working on legislation to correct the language. Also I believe the County Executive found another ally to get the change by getting the Wisconsin Realtors Association in favor of the issue.

In short this was the best Legislative Exchange in the four that I attend. WCA events are worth attending they are informative and great for idea sharing.