NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN
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MOODY'S: WISCONSIN RAINY DAY FUND NOT ENOUGH TO COVER MODERATE RECESSION
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A new report out from Moody's Analytics showed that Wisconsin would not have enough resources to manage its finances should a moderate economic recession hit the state.
The numbers showed that Wisconsin's rainy day fund balance currently equals 1.9 percent of the state's 2019 total revenues, putting the Badger State at the 11th worst among the 50 states.
According to Moody's, a moderate economic downtown would mean the state would need 11.3 percent of its 2019 revenues to stave off a more severe fiscal impact. Without more money on hand, the report implied that cutting services or raising taxes would be the only recourse barring adequate resources.
The State of Wyoming was in the best shape, with a 138.3 percent rainy day balance, while Illinois had no rainy day fund at all.
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CDC: WISCONSIN ELEVATED TO HIGH FLU CATEGORY
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week elevated Wisconsin to the high flu category after a jump in the number of cases at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
According to the state's Department of Health Services (DHS), there have been 459 hospitalizations for influenza so far this season, which is three times more than this time last year. There have also been 11 deaths from influenza this season.
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin also reported that there were 829 pediatric flu cases in December, which WLUK reports is a 9,000% increase from December of 2018. Of those cases, 46 individuals have been hospitalized.
DHS has a tool on its website for how to prevent influenza from spreading, which also includes receiving a flu vaccine. Young children, pregnant women, individuals 65 and older, and individuals with chronic health conditions such as asthma or heart disease are at an increased risk of contracting the flu.
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PROPOSALS INTRODUCED TO HELP RETAIN FIREFIGHTERS, EMS
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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have introduced a bipartisan proposal that would provide up to $1,500 in tax credits to assist volunteer firefighters and EMS workers to use towards purchasing new equipment, or to offset housing and training costs.
In Wisconsin, around 90% of the state's firefighters are volunteer.
The "BRAVE Act," would allow firefighters and EMS workers $300 tax credits for their first five years of working, and $600 per year for those who have volunteered for more than five years. Another credit would allow for $900 to pay for necessary equipment and training costs.
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ELECTIONS COMMISSION STALLED ON VOTER ROLLS, POSSIBLY FACE CONTEMPT CHARGE
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The Wisconsin Elections Commission last week stalled on a plan that would remove as many as 209,000 from voter rolls; individuals who did not respond to a postcard from the commission, verifying their home address. The commission is made up of three Democrat-appointed members, and three appointed by Republicans.
If the voters were removed from the polls, they would need to re-register to vote, which can be done at the polls on the same day as any election in Wisconsin. Opponents of the plan said the commission should wait until a ruling is handed down in a current appeal to an Ozaukee County judge's ruling late last year, which directed the commission to remove the voters immediately.
Since the commission did not follow the judge's orders, conservative legal group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is now asking the judge to hold the Wisconsin Elections Commission in contempt of court for refusing to follow a court order. No delay was granted on the judge's decision pending an appeal, so the group believes commission members should be charged.
Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul said he did not believe the commission should be held in contempt because an appeal is pending. He legally represents the commission in this case.
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WISCONSIN POPULATION STAGNANT
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In its annual estimates of state and national population as of July 1, the U.S. Census Bureau's annual population estimates, the State of Wisconsin only added 15,028 in 2019, which is a net increase of 0.26%.
That modest population gain landed Wisconsin the #28 spot nationally, while its overall 2.38% growth since the year 2010 landed the state in the #37 spot.
"Most of the country's growth has been concentrated in the South and West," one report said. "which have increased 9.6% and 8.9% respectively. Those two regions grew 0.81% and 0.66% respectively in the last year."
While Wisconsin's growth might seem slow, the state outpaced the Midwest region, which grew only 0.14% in the past year, and 2.09% in the past decade. According to one source, "The Midwest, however, has been held back by the declining population of Illinois, which has lost 158,811 people since 2010, and 51,250 in the last year."
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DOR: JEFFERSON COUNTY TAX RETURN PREPARER SENTENED TO PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD
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David W. Zehnder, 55, a Fort Atkinson accountant, was sentenced to five years in the Wisconsin State Prison System for four felony counts of filing fraudulent Wisconsin income tax returns and one felony count of theft.
On January 2, 2020, a Jefferson County Court sentenced Zehnder to two years confinement in state prison, followed by three years supervision by the Department of Corrections.
According to the criminal complaint, he operated A-Z Productivity, Inc, a tax preparation firm. As a tax return preparer, Zehnder knowingly filed at least 83 false Wisconsin income tax returns by overstating the itemized deduction credits on his customers' returns. In doing so, Zehnder overstated the credits by $73,910. He also stole, or attempted to steal, $32,312 of customers' refunds by diverting a portion of the tax refunds into accounts he controlled without the customers' consent.
As tax filing season approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue offers the following tips to taxpayers when selecting a tax return preparer: Check the preparer's qualifications, check their history, as about costs and service fees, as to E-file, provide records and receipts, review before signing, and always ensure the preparer signs and includes their PTIN.
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By clicking the link, you acknowledge that it is the policy of WPT, Inc. to publish all comments that are submitted by members each week, often including broad differences of opinion within the weekly responses. Our organization values our role in fostering dialogue within our membership, but does not take responsibility for the individual views and opinions expressed herein. It is the right of WPT to remove responses that what the organization deems to be vulgar, hateful, or inflammatory language.
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WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
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Did you notice an increase of the Lottery and Gaming Credit on your property tax bill?
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The credit is tiny. Use it on the roads instead, we won't miss it.
Yes, noticed an increase in the credit, and an increase in my total taxes too.
Yeeeeeessss
yes, unfortunately here in Sun Prairie my property tax bill went up by $500 even with the credit
yes a good idea
Definitely
YES
yes
just notice increase in my property taxes
Yes
Glad you told me, I remember this being a major victory for WPT many years ago.
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WEDC announced that in 2019 it granted more than $250 million in economic deals from grants, tax credits, and loans. Do you generally support this use of tax dollars?
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Corporate Welfare ru amok
Stop corporate welfare.
I appreciate what they are doing, helping alot of our larger small businesses stay afloat or expand in Wisconsin...but really does Menards need a tax break for expansion? Should it come on the tax payers shoulders?
We have to compete against other states
I always question these grants, because its our taxpayer money and is it being putmto gooduse
Yes, it's good to help out the beginners as long as there is accountability.
Economic development is important but I’m not sure why WEDC is taxpayer-funded. Private foundations, venture capitalists, and others can offer these types of funding and support. Why is the state duplicating efforts?
More business means more tax revenue. Why not put some of this tax revenue back into business? This makes a lot of sense to me!
I do not like corporate welfare
If it's done right and monitored.
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What do you think of a bill that would penalize those who harass or intimidate sports officials?
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Part of the problem with using the term intimidate is being vague.
No law necessary. The organizers should be able to handle this. We had a very wealthy coach (donor) go insane on a 13 year old umpire. Parents, other coaches, and the organization stepped in. Eventually called police and he was banned from the organization. No law needed.
not sure that a bill is necessary - people should know how to behave. if not officials should kick them out of the contest, participants included
Use existing law. Don’t create another problem
we don't need more laws we need personal responsibility
I have seen parents screem at the officials which in my opinion is terrible and you wonder why younder generation has no repect anymore
It should not happen in the first place, so if it does, people should be responsible and face the consequences.
Just copy and paste the bill from another state. No need to reinvent the wheel here.
YES YES & YES
Yes, people take youth sports too seriously. Only because they take themselves too seriously.
However, so unfortunate you need to legislate this.
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In regards to your business (or economically), are you optimistic going in to 2020?
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paying off our mortgage
A better year without all those phone calls , I hope.
Tariffs are taking their toll on us.
Expansion! We need more storage space at our business.
challenge - getting skilled workers in the trades
Hopes for more profitability
In agricuture of low prices and weather for the pass two years you only things turn around
I’m cautiously optimistic but concerned about Amazon and big box retailers shutting down more small businesses. Every time we buy on Amazon, we turn our backs on those Main Street businesses owned by our neighbors. Also curious to see what will happen with Trump’s impeachment and how thus election year may impact our business.
Skilled workers will be the biggest challenge.
Has to be better than last year. Last year was horrible... There were several points this past year I thought we wouldn't make it to the end of the year.
Hoping and will be working to elect a new President. Thankful for Gov Evers!
Milk price stays up and agreenments with other counrties for increased sales
Best year ever, here we come.
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Any plans for New Year's Eve? Do you stay up until midnight? Any special traditions? Do you have a resolution for 2020? Share your New Year thoughts here!
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I didn't stay up,, but I did hear the fire works going off at what I thought was midnight. My resolution is not keep up with Politics and vote who I want.
A first a farm to table dinner at a local winery
work
Go to eat early and then play cards with friends
I go to bed. I have too much pain to go out.
We stay home, eat, drink, and are merry! The new year always feels like a fresh start... just wish we didn’t have to wait so long for spring to arrive.
I'm 41 and have 2 little kids. Hope to make it up till 11:00 if I'm lucky.
Don't party or make resolutions.
stay home.no. have scrimp&lobster. take off some weight.
Same four couples go out to eat and return to one of the four homes to cards play until about midnight. Have snacks and go home. Happy New Year!! P.S. Go to church on New Years.
I will be closer to God and do God's will. The rest will fall into place.
staying home
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LRB-1179
Memo
Payday Loans (Jacque, Andre) Interest rates on payday loans and loans by licensed lenders. Deadline: January 13, 5 pm
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