Intergovernmental Meeting

10/24/12 Minutes (62 KB)

Members present: Tommy Lee Bychinski, Jason Lane, William Wenzel, Joan Fordham

Members absent: None

Others present: Marty Krueger Kathy Schauf, Jon Hochkammer, Kyle Christianson, Rick Stadelman, Ed Geick, Alan Wildman, Tom Benson, Art Carlson, Mike Palm, Carol Held, Tom Broughton, Dale Schultz, George Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Brian Peper, Jennifer Evert, Jim Huebsch, Joe Fish, Dave Radel, Dennis Polivka, Raymond Bolton, Tom Schneller, Ron Lins, Doug Yost, Cliff Thompson, Ray Getschman, Bruce Meyer, Dave Estes, Ed Brooks, Bev Vaillancourt, Marcus Wenzel, Donald Gieck, Ervin Borleske, Jerry Lehman, Lester Wiese, John Dietrich, Ken Witt, Larry Volz, Terry Smelzer, Daniel Conlon, Lynn Eberl, Paul Bremer, Wayne Bindl, Jeff Seering, Carl Mundth, Steve Muchow, Doug Lohr, Donna Stehling, Scott Alexander, Tom Kriegl, Tim Stone

The meeting was called to order and certification of Open Meeting compliance was given at 6:30 p.m. The agenda was approved on a motion by Wenzel, second by Lane. Motion carried.

Public Comment:
None

Introductions
Participants introduced themselves. M. Krueger provided a background on the intergovernmental meetings and the benefit they have provided to the governmental units in Sauk County, introduced speakers and requested feedback through the distribution of feedback forms.

Business Items
Presentation and discussion of the “Wisconsin State Budget: History and What to Expect” with Jon Hochkammer, Wisconsin Counties Association Legislative Director; Kyle Christianson, Wisconsin Counties Association Research and Legislative Associate; Rick Stadelman, Wisconsin Towns Association Executive Director, local elected officials, and participants.

Key points
     • The majority of the state budget is in aids to local governments. The state budget is a local budget.
     • Unique relationship between state and county - as county is a provider of services on behalf of the state. Unique to other states.
     • Towns, villages, cities, and school districts discussed the variances in state averages versus local specific budgets for SaukCounty towns, Prairie du Sac, Baraboo, and the Reedsburg School district respectively.
     • State aids are frequently around 1/4 of revenues for local governments. Declining revenues significantly affect the ability of local governments to provide service.
     • Transportation fund is not keeping up with the needs.
     • One of the largest components of the state operations is the University system and corrections.
     • State budget priorities - school aids, shared revenue, medicaid, and university system - changing trend over time as shared revenue has declined.
     • Shared revenue declined at the same time that the levy limits were tightened.
     • Corrections is the third largest expense in state government.
     • A major portion of transportation funding is used for funding of debt service (currently 11 percent).

Motion by Wenzel, second by Lane, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Fordham
Finance Committee Secretary