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2006 WCCA Fall Conference

2006 WCCA Fall Conference. Matt Stohr Wisconsin Counties Association. Outline. What is WCA? Important legislation and administrative rules from the 2005-06 legislative session that impact counties. Forecast for the 2007-08 legislative session. What is WCA?.

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2006 WCCA Fall Conference

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  1. 2006 WCCA Fall Conference Matt Stohr Wisconsin Counties Association

  2. Outline • What is WCA? • Important legislation and administrative rules from the 2005-06 legislative session that impact counties. • Forecast for the 2007-08 legislative session

  3. What is WCA? • Created by state statute 59.52 (22). • Primary focus is to lobby for the betterment of county government at both the state and federal level. • WCA structure. • Other services we provide counties: 1. Insurance 2. Wheeler Report 3. Magazine/Website 4. Public Relations 5. Educational Seminars 6. Research/Surveys/Information 7. Legal Opinions and Assistance 8. E-newsletter

  4. What is WCA? • Strong partnership with WCCA, County Conservationists, Planners, Highway Commissioners, Register of Deeds, etc. • Nearly 1600 county supervisors in WI • Approximately 34,000 county employees in WI

  5. 2005-06 Legislative Session • There are 99 members of the Wisconsin State Assembly and 33 members of the Wisconsin State Senate. • Currently there are 59 Republicans and 39 Democrats in the Assembly and 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats in the Senate. • There were approximately 1200 Assembly Bills and 700 Senate Bills introduced last session. Approximately 100 resolutions were introduced also.

  6. 2005-06 Legislative Session • Of the approximately 1900 bills, WCA lobbied over 200 bills and 6 joint resolutions. • 220 of the approximately 1900 bills were signed into law. • Many of the bills required the creation of administrative rule or changes to existing administrative rules.

  7. 2005-06 Legislative Session Priority Issues for Counties: • Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA)-oppose • Levy Limits-oppose • 2005-07 State Budget, separate issue • Reform current tax structure • Preservation of local control • Limiting Liability • Referendum Questions

  8. 2005-06 Legislative Session Environment and Land Use Related Legislation that did not pass: • Assembly Bill 675-”Pay for Zoning” Bill • Senate Bill 583-County Zoning Authority • Senate Bill 505-Amish/UDC Bill • Assembly Bill 299-Shoreland Zoning Bill • Assembly Bill 597-”Culpable Bill”

  9. 2005-06 Legislative Session Environment and Land Use Related Legislation that did pass: • Senate Bill 253-Nonconforming Structures • Assembly Bill 399-Militarty Bases • Senate Bill 681-Impact Fee • Assembly Bill 449-Legislative Council Bill

  10. 2005-06 Legislative Session Other “County Related” Bills that passed: • Senate Bill 4-county board size • Senate Bill 331-repeal of gas tax indexing • Assembly Bill 296-liability shield • Assembly Bill 211-fines and forfeitures

  11. Administrative Rules Important land-use related administrative rules that are in play: • NR 115 • NR 135 • ATCP 51 Each will be covered during the Conference.

  12. Public Opinion • Public opinion and the outcome of the upcoming elections will play an important role in shaping the agenda for the 2007-08 Legislative Session. • Polls: • Voter Priority List for WI Governor and Legislature. • WCA Polls and Referendum

  13. Polls/Public Opinion Capitol Opinion Wisconsin Survey (03/06) • What do you think should be the top priority of the Governor and the State Legislature? • Hold the line of taxes/spending: 32% • Making healthcare more affordable: 19% • Improving schools: 18% • Attract jobs to the state: 10% • Fight crime: 2% • Protect the environment: 1% • Improve traffic problems:1% • Curb growth:1% • Other issues: 16%

  14. Polls/Public Opinion • Transportation funding example. • WCA is working with Wood Communications to conduct numerous polls about county government, government spending and our tax structure. • WCA also worked with 69 of 72 counties to ask the public about state mandates in April 2005. 86% of the voting public said that the state should fund its mandates. • Finally, WCA is conducting a series of ads on public radio about the role of county government.

  15. What is the point? • The political parties do extensive polling, therefore, with a few exceptions, polls and public opinion tend to determine what type of legislative and budgetary proposals will be brought forward during any given legislative session and budget process.

  16. 2007-08 Legislative Session • Legislative proposals will be introduced beginning in January 2007. • 2007-09 state budget will be submitted in February 2007. • Budget will most likely be approved in late summer/early fall of 2007. • Legislative Session will conclude in late spring/early summer of 2008.

  17. 2007-08 Legislative Session What to expect? • Working Lands Initiative • Solid Waste Task Force Proposals • State budget • Numerous land use bills • More of the same?

  18. Contact Information Matt Stohr Wisconsin Counties Association 22 E. Mifflin St., #900 Madison, WI 53703 608.663.7188 (phone) stohr@wicounties.org

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