WEEK OF APRIL 17, 2017
2017-19 STATE BIENNIAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public hearings on the 2017-19 state biennial budget resume this week:
  • Tuesday, April 18 - Spooner High School (Auditorium), Spooner, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 19 - Ellsworth High School (Gymnasium), Ellsworth, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Friday, April 21 - Marinette High School (Auditorium), Marinette, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
All members of the county family are highly encouraged to attend the public hearings. Talking points for your use at the public hearings may be accessed here. 
WCA STATE BUDGET WEEKLY WEBINARS:   

The biennial state budget is generally the single most important legislative document relating to county budgets and operations. Nearly every legislative decision has an impact on the way in which counties provide services, and understanding what decisions are being made can help inform the response by counties.

Again this biennium, the WCA Government Affairs Team will be hosting weekly budget webinars on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. during state budget deliberations. During this webinar, WCA staff will update participants on the actions and impacts of the Joint Finance Committee's (JFC) budget deliberations from the previous week and the week to come, and will also invite participants to ask questions and offer feedback.

"When state budget deliberations begin, both at the JFC level and on the floor of the legislature, the document is very fluid, with changes and revisions happening pretty much daily," said WCA Government Affairs Director Kyle Christianson. "We encourage county officials and other interested parties to join us each week as we discuss updates, policy changes and the impact on counties."

How to Sign Up
To join this FREE webinar, visit https://wicounties.adobeconnect.com/budget/ each Monday morning. This link will remain active throughout the budget process.  Budget webinars will likely start the  first week of May.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 17, 2017

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  For a complete listing of weekly hearings, please visit here .

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

 Joint Committee on Finance, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Public hearing on the 2017-19 state biennial budget.
Spooner High School (Auditorium)
801 County Highway A
Spooner, WI 54801

Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 85 - allowing a local public official to serve as an election official. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 153 - aggrieved parties petitioning for a recount and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 148 - personal delivery devices and providing a penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 65 - leases of real property for executive agencies and a plan to relocate the Department of Children and families headquarters. WCA has no position on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities, 12:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 78 - lead service line replacements. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 234 - creating an Interagency Council on Homelessness and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 235 - housing grants. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 236 - waiting lists for housing choice vouchers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 241 - mitigating the benefit drop-off in Wisconsin Shares. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 242 - substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment requirements for certain work experience programs, providing an exemption from emergency rule-making procedures, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

 Joint Committee on Finance, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Public hearing on the 2017-19 state biennial budget.
Ellsworth High School (Gymnasium)
323 West Hillcrest Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011

Assembly Committee on State Affairs, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 42 - various changes regarding administrative rules and rule-making procedures and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Friday, April 21, 2017

 Joint Committee on Finance, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Public hearing on the 2017-19 state biennial budget.
Marinette High School (Auditorium)
2135 Pierce Avenue
Marinette, WI 54143

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website. 
FLOOR SESSIONS

The Senate and Assembly are both expected to have floor session on Tuesday, May 2 and possibly Tuesday, May 9.
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS
  • July 13 - County Organization and Personnel Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Health and Human Services Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Taxation and Finance Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Transportation and Public Works Steering Committee
  See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here.
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

wispolitics
As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at dias@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team:

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188