Joint Finance Executive Session Notice
On Wednesday, October 15, the Joint Finance Committee will hold an executive session on bills related to regulatory reform and tax credits. Bills included in the Committee’s schedule are:

• SB 246, and companion bill AB 486, relating to deadlines for state agency action on permit applications, the so-called “presumptive approval” legislation. (SB 246 passed the Senate on September 23, and AB 486 passed the Assembly on October 2.);

• AB 520, and companion bill SB 248, relating to calculating technology zone tax credits and certification of businesses under the program. (AB 520 passed the Assembly on September 25, and SB 248 passed the Senate on October 1.); and

• AB 507 and AB 508, relating to income and franchise tax credit for sales tax and use tax paid on fuel and electricity consumed in manufacturing.

The Committee will also be voting on several bills relating to parental school choice and charter schools as well as SB 252, relating to Joint Finance Committee review of stewardship acquisitions.

Debate Continues Over Smart Growth Repeal
On October 9, the Assembly Committee on Rural Affairs held a public hearing on AB 435, relating to repealing the comprehensive planning statute known as ‘Smart Growth.’ Under current Smart Growth law, all comprehensive plans (created or amended by local government units in order maintain or develop the locality according to zoning and land use requirements) are required to contain certain planning elements, including: housing, transportation, utilities and community facilities, and economic development. 

AB 435 would repeal the Smart Growth statute, and with it the requirement that local governments must take into account the above specific elements when embarking on any effort related to expansion or growth in the locality. The effort to repeal Smart Growth is largely motivated by rural constituents who argue that while Smart Growth may make sense in large cities under substantial growth pressure, it isn’t as critical in rural areas, and is expensive, confusing, and demanding on the smaller localities. Smart Growth proponents argue, however, that Smart Growth has been, and continues to be, successful for all areas subject to growth pressure. The planning guidelines of Smart Growth also allow any locality to qualify for state grants. 

Forward Wisconsin Seeks Minnesota Businesses
This week, Forward Wisconsin, a public-private state marketing and business recruitment organization, announced that it continues to target Minnesota businesses for expansion into Wisconsin. On October 7-9, the organization took its annual marketing trip to Minnesota, where it met with nearly 40 Twin Cities’ area CEOs to discuss the possibility of expansion into Wisconsin. 

Bill Would Revamp Labor Law
On Tuesday, October 7, state Sen. Ron Brown (R-Eau Claire) and state Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) announced their proposal to revamp municipal employment relations law in Wisconsin. The proposal will include companion Senate and Assembly bills aimed at reforming current law regarding the arbitration of labor disputes between municipalities and their workers. A summary of the proposed reforms includes:

• Requiring arbitrators to consider the impact of settlement proposals on the tax levy, with an effort to avoid settlements that cannot be funded without raising the local property tax rate;

• Requiring arbitrators to compare the pay of employees with the pay of other workers (public and private sector) within their own community, and not with employees in other communities, as is the case under current law; and

• Restricting awards of back pay. 

WEAC very quickly issued a press release attacking the proposal.

Study Looks at Wisconsin Property Tax Trends
On October 6, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to government research and citizen education, announced the results of its study, Perspectives on Municipal Finance, relating to property tax trends over the past 10 years in Wisconsin. The study reported that municipal property tax levies for the state’s 220 largest cities and villages rose, on average, nearly 5 ½ percent annually. According to the study, this increase was not entirely due to inflation, although inflation does account for some of it.

Governor Calls for Local Government Summit
On October 7, Governor Doyle announced that he plans to call a summit of local government leaders in early December to address his goal of reducing local government costs in order to control property taxes. The Governor made this announcement, Tuesday, before the Wisconsin Towns Association Convention in Green Bay. 

Doyle Attends Manufacturing Summit
On Wednesday, October 8, Governor Doyle convened his Manufacturing Summit in Milwaukee. The summit was held to highlight current needs of Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry, which has taken severe job loss hits in the past two years. At the summit, the Governor announced he was calling upon the Legislature to assist him in meeting the needs of the manufacturing sector by passing key legislation within his ‘Grow Wisconsin’ economic development package. Additionally, the Governor announced his plan to join with other state Governors to seek assistance from Washington. 

Wisconsin to Hold Economic Summit IV
On Monday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 28, 2003, Wisconsin will hold its fourth economic summit at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee. The event, “Wisconsin Economic Summit IV – Why Wisconsin. . .!” is aimed at bringing together the state's government, business, labor and education leaders in important economic development discussions to accelerate Wisconsin's economic progress. (For detailed information on the summit, including a schedule of events and registration information, go to the Wisconsin Economic Summit IV website.) 

In addition to a packed schedule of panel discussions and workshops, the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) will hold a workshop entitled “Regional Economic Development Cooperation – Lessons Learned.” WEDA members will present some of the collaborative regional ventures in which they are already engaged. 

UW-Madison to Host Energy Policy Forum
The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced it will be hosting an energy policy forum on Monday, October 20^th, to address the current and future direction of the state of Wisconsin’s energy policy. Academic and industry experts will be present to give presentations and feedback. Attendance is encouraged; the deadline for registration is October 10^th. 

Committee Holds Marotta Confirmation Hearing
On Wednesday, October 8, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Reform held a public hearing relating to Senate confirmation of Marc Marotta’s appointment as Secretary of the Department of Administration. While the hearing was cordial and positive, no Committee vote was taken.

Saturday, October 11, 2003:

• St. Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha), 7:00 p.m., Kenosha, Wis.

Monday, October 13, 2003:

• St. Rep. Terri McCormick (R-Appleton), 5:00 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

• U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-D6), 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

• U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-D3), 5:00 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

Wednesday, October 15, 2003:

• St. Sen. Jeff Plale (D-S.Milwaukee), 7:30 a.m., Madison, Wis.

Friday, October 17, 2003:

• St. Sens. Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha), Roger Breske (D-Eland), and Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), 3:30 p.m., Madison, Wis.

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For Further Information

New transmission lines for state advocated: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 10, 2003.

Lawmakers to vote on concealed weapons bill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 10, 2003.

New transmission lines for state advocated: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 10, 2003.

Doyle to take concerns to Bush: Oshkosh Northwestern, Oct. 9, 2003.

Keep taxes down, Doyle tells towns convention: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 8, 2003.

Smart Growth, silly legislation (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 8, 2003.

Doyle listens to business officials: Manitowoc Herald Times, Oct. 8, 2003. Governor stops in area, tours Manitowoc Crane.

Forum focuses on regional growth factor: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Oct. 8, 2003.

 Study: Property tax levies increased over decade: Janesville Gazette, Oct. 7, 2003.

GOP floats bargaining proposal: Madison Capital Times, Oct. 7, 2003.

Doyle and Granholm to lobby Washington on manufacturing: Janesville Gazette, Oct. 9, 2003.

President sympathetic to manufacturers' plight: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 5, 2003.

Bill would repeal state planning law: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 6, 2003.

Demand for regulatory reform picks up momentum: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 6, 2003.