Please complete my Spring Budget Survey!

Many of you have probably noticed that my 2021 Spring Budget Survey began to hit mailboxes late last week! I want to encourage you to complete the survey. You can fill out the survey you received in the mail and send it back, or you can save a stamp and answer the questions online here.

 

I look forward to looking over your feedback regarding our biennial budget as we continue with the budget process in the coming weeks!

 


For the People Relief Plan Vetoed

 

Last week during our April Floor Session the Assembly passed 11 bills attempting to direct the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds in ways that we believe would have reflected the priorities of our constituents.

 

Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the bill package in its entirety this week. Our legislative package would have included funding for the following priorities:  

 

Aid to Households: Send a payment directly to all property taxpayers based on 10% of their property tax payment

Small Business Assistance: $200 million for small business grants

Tourism Assistance: $50 million for tourism grants and $25 million for advertising grants for amusement parks

Rural Economic Development & Farmer Assistance: $50 million for rural economic development grants and $50 million for farmer support funds

Long-term Care Assistance: $150 million for grants for nursing homes and assisted living facilities and worker bonuses

Strengthen Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund: Requires the use of recovery funds to keep UI taxes at the lowest tax schedule

Local Road Funding: $308 million to give $2 million per county and $2,000 per road mile to cities, villages, and towns for road improvements

Broadband Expansion: $500 million in broadband expansion grants

EMS and Mental Health: $68.2 million for EMS technology upgrades and a psychiatric hospital in Eau Claire

Debt Repayment: $250 million to pay down state debt and $250 million to pay off transportation revenue bonds

Clean Water Investments: $61 million for water infrastructure projects


Tomorrow: Drug Take Back Day

 

Unused or expired prescription medications should never be thrown in the standard garbage, flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain.

 

To mitigate risk of water contamination, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) organizes Drug Take Back Days from time to time. A Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to safely dispose of both controlled and uncontrolled substances, including: prescription or over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, creams, non-aerosol sprays, vials, and even pet medications.

 

There will be a Drug Take Back Day tomorrow. The two official Take Back Day locations in our area are –

 

South Milwaukee Police Department

2424 15th Ave

South Milwaukee, WI 53172

Hours: 9am-12pm

 

Pick ‘n Save

8770 S Howell Ave

Oak Creek, WI 53154

Hours: 10am-2pm

 

Additionally, you can always dispose of prescription drugs at the following locations:

 

Oak Creek Police Department

301 W Ryan Rd

Oak Creek, WI 53154

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

 

South Milwaukee Police Department

2424 15th Ave

South Milwaukee, WI 53172

Hours: 24/7

 

Meijer

171 W Town Square Way

Oak Creek, WI 53154

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm

Saturday, 9am-7pm

Sunday, 10am-6pm

 

Please note Drug Take Back Day is not a safe way to dispose of used medical sharps. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides guidance on the disposal of sharps as well as a map of registered sharps collection stations in Wisconsin, which you can find here.


UW Tours

During the Joint Committee on Finance’s roadshow we had the opportunity to tour a couple of buildings on our University of Wisconsin campuses. The UW system has made several requests for state assistance with new building projects on their campuses.

 

During the public hearing at UW-Whitewater we had the opportunity to tour Winther Hall, which is home to UW-Whitewater’s College of Education. The campus is requesting funds to assist with expanding the current building to help with ADA accessibility and to make the building a more welcoming place for the future educators of our state.

 

 

At UW-Stout this week my colleagues and I had the opportunity to tour Heritage Hall. UW-Stout is requesting funding to assist with modernizing the existing building and to address some safety concerns.

 

 

I appreciated the opportunity to visit these buildings and get a better idea of these two capital budget requests.