Serving the Northwoods Communities of Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua, Phelps, Florence and Forest County.
District Dialogue
February, 6 2015
State Budget Address
On
February 3, Governor Walker released his 2015-2017 state budget. I am looking forward to working with my
colleagues and members of the Joint Committee on Finance in the upcoming
budget cycle. During
the Governor’s address, I was very encouraged by his emphasis on
education and economic development.
The Northwoods continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Making college more affordable by freezing tuition will allow more students at Nicolet College to be trained in high demand fields.
In addition to tuition freezes for technical colleges and the UW-System,
the Governor included a number of rural school initiatives from the
bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Rural Schools. The Governor included the
following task force recommendations in his budget address.
• Allow school districts to share certain grades without consolidation
• Encourage internet providers to extend high-speed internet access
throughout Wisconsin
• Create a new version of the TEACH program
• Increase funding for transportation aid
• Increase funding for sparsity aid
• Allow flexibility in teacher licensing
I appreciate the Governor recognizing me and the work of the bipartisan
task force for rural schools in Tuesday's address. It is clear that the
Governor and the Republican majority are committed to helping
Wisconsin’s rural economy, as well as our small rural schools.
Please click the image above for a short message on the Governor's budget address.
As the Joint Committee on Finance begins to travel the state, I am in
high hopes that one of the four public hearings will be held in the
Northwoods.
For more information in regards to the
Governor's Plan to Grow the Economy in Rural Wisconsin,
follow this link.
Please click the image above to hear the Governor's acknowledgement of Rep. Swearingen and the Speaker's Task Force on Rural Schools during his Budget Address on Tuesday, February 3.
Freedom and Prosperity: Governor Scott
Walker Announces Property Tax Relief for Hard-Working Families
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 - Press Release
Madison – Governor Scott Walker today announced his Property Tax Relief
plan as a part of the 2015-2017 State Budget. The past four years have
seen consecutive property tax reductions for the typical Wisconsin
homeowner. Governor Walker’s budget proposal reaffirms his commitment to
property tax relief, so that the typical homeowner will continue to see
declines, as opposed to increases in the decade before Governor Walker
took office.
“Largely because of our reforms and the flexibility we gave to local
governments, property taxes on a typical home in Wisconsin are $131 less
this year than they were in 2010,” said Governor Walker. “I am proud to
say that our state budget will continue those reforms, so the property
tax bill on a typical home will be even lower during the next two years.
Just as I promised, property taxes by the end of 2016 will be lower than
they were in 2014.”
In the decade prior to Governor Walker taking office, property taxes on
a median value home increased 27 percent. Since the 2010-2011 property
tax year, the typical homeowner has seen a decrease of more than $130 on
their tax bill, about 4.4 percent.
In his Budget Address, Governor Walker cited a letter from James Booker
of Plymouth, who wrote:
Dear Gov. Walker, I want to thank you! I am 68 years old and have owned
various homes in Wisconsin since I was 20 years old. This is the first
time that I have ever received a substantial reduction in the Property
Tax! I have been very angry at Wisconsin for a number of years due to
the huge property tax compared to other States and have been planning on
selling our home and moving to a low tax State. We have had our home up
for sale for a year and took it off the market for the winter. Now I
plan on not re-listing in the spring and will wait to see what happens
with Wisconsin property taxes.
As a means of continuing to protect property taxpayers like Mr. Booker,
Governor Walker proposes maintaining current law property tax controls.
Additionally, $211.2 million is proposed to increase funding to the
school levy tax credit over the biennium, increasing $105.6 million each
property tax year. This will aid in diminishing the amount of money owed
by property taxpayers for their school district tax bills.
Additionally, Governor Walker proposes allocating $104.1 million in
fiscal year 2016-17 to general equalization aids, which would continue
to reduce school levies in the 2016-17 property tax year.
With this additional funding for property tax relief and continued
property tax controls, property taxes are predicted to drop each of the
next two years for the typical homeowner, making an unprecedented six
consecutive years of declines. Property taxes will also be at their
lowest level in at least several decades as a percentage of personal
income.
For more information regarding Property Tax Relief in Wisconsin,
refer to this link.
DNR Report
Efforts underway for Wisconsin Bikeways Project
The Bikeways Project will evaluate existing roadways and trails to
identify priority bikeway routes across Wisconsin.
The public will have an opportunity through a variety of public
participation efforts to help identify, create and promote a network of
mapped bicycle routes in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in coordination with
other state agencies, and the Wisconsin Bike Fed are partnering to work
on a statewide Bikeways Project. Toole Design Group has been hired as a
consultant on the project. A bikeway is a road, street or path that is
specifically designated for bicycle travel, may be designed for bicycle
travel and may be shared with other modes of transportation or
recreation.
"The Bikeways Project will evaluate existing roadways and trails to
identify priority bikeway routes across Wisconsin," says Brigit Brown,
DNR state trails coordinator.
The focus will be on establishing recommendations and turn-by-turn
directions for Wisconsin segments of the United States Bicycle Route
System, a network of long-distance bicycle routes across the country
linking urban, suburban and rural areas through a variety of bicycling
facilities.
Brown said the project will develop recommendations, methodology and
guidelines for identifying, designating and signing regional, intrastate
and interstate bikeways. It will focus on fulfilling goals outlined in
the existing
Wisconsin Trails Network Plan [PDF] and supplementing the
statewide bicycle condition maps already available.
Some of the benefits of state bikeways, Brown said, will be to increase
access and options for long-distance bicycle travel, increase safety for
bicyclists, and to promote physical activity. Environmental and economic
benefits would include cost savings through energy conservation and
pollution reduction, and increasing tourism and increasing public
awareness.
According to a 2010 UW-Madison study, bicycle recreation and tourism
contributes $924 million per year to the state's economy, $533 million
of which is annual direct spending by both resident and non-resident
cyclists on bicycle trip-related expenses such as food, lodging,
entertainment, and taxes.
Two sets of public open houseswill be scheduled this spring and fall and
a public comment period is also planned, with the project expected
to be completed by the end of this year.
For more information, search the DNR
website, dnr.wi.gov, for keyword "bikeway."
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brigit Brown, 608-266-2183 or Paul Holtan,
608-267-7517
Wisconsin launches largest statewide bird survey in history
MADISON - Birders are grabbing their binoculars and getting ready to
count birds for a good cause as Wisconsin launches its most
comprehensive bird survey ever. The effort, known as Wisconsin Breeding
Bird Atlas II, will last five years, enlist thousands of citizen
scientists and help shape bird conservation efforts for the next
generation, according to organizers.
"This project represents a unique opportunity for citizens to be a part
of conservation efforts in our state," said Nick Anich, breeding bird
atlas coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
"Anyone can participate in the survey. Whether they're an expert birder
or just starting out, we'll provide them the tools they need to
successfully document the birds across the state."
The project, which runs through the end of 2019, is a cooperative effort
between DNR and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Western Great
Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, and the Wisconsin Bird Conservation
Initiative. The survey will aim to document breeding bird numbers and
diversity throughout the state.
Click on the picture above to view a slideshow with fun facts from the first atlas.
"The Breeding Bird Atlas is crucial to helping us understand changes and
trends in bird populations statewide," said Bill Mueller, director of
the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. "This project and the
information collected by our partners will be used for numerous
conservation programs at work now and into the future."
The first Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas was initiated by WSO in 1995 and
represented the largest coordinated field effort in the history of
Wisconsin ornithology. During the six-year survey period, field
observers documented 237 bird species, with 226 of those listed as
confirmed breeders in the state.
"With the help of three new lead organizations, we'll be able to further
build on the strengths of the first atlas as well as capitalize on
advancing technology to increase participation and collect even more
information for the second atlas," said Kim Kreitinger, WSO president.
Not only will the second atlas be the largest avian citizen science
project ever in the state of Wisconsin, but it will also be the first in
the country to utilize eBird, a popular bird reporting and analysis
website. Results of the atlas will help guide future bird conservation
efforts and land management planning.
"The efforts of volunteers who will donate their time and energy over
the next five years will allow us to achieve much more than we ever
could alone. The support is truly invaluable," said Erin Crain, director
of the DNR Natural Heritage Conservation bureau. "The data collected by
volunteers will play an integral role in the management of Wisconsin
birds, which speaks to the importance of our dedicated partners."
Breeding Bird Atlas Survey seeking volunteers
The success of the atlas will rely on the help of countless volunteers.
Whatever your skill level and wherever you bird, everyone is welcome to
participate. You can make an impact by carefully observing birds and
documenting their breeding activities starting this spring. To sign up
to volunteer and help conserve
Wisconsin birds, visit
wsobirds.org/atlas-email-signup.
Attend the spring kickoff meeting on Feb. 27
Join bird enthusiasts from around the state at the atlas kickoff meeting
at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Rothschild, Wis. The
meeting will run from Feb. 27- March 1 and features a full agenda
including field trips, training workshops and presentations. For a
complete list of events and speakers,
visit
wsobirds.org/atlas-kickoff-meeting.
To learn more about how you can support or participate in the survey,
visit wsobirds.org/atlas. For a
more detailed look into the survey, check out the February issue of
Wisconsin Natural
Resources magazine.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Anich, DNR breeding bird atlas
coordinator, 715-685-2930; Bill Mueller, Western Great Lakes Bird and
Bat Observatory Director, 414-698-9108.; Kim Kreitinger, Wisconsin
Society for Ornithology President,
k.kreitinger@gmail.com;
Ryan
Brady, WBCI bird monitoring coordinator, 715- 685-2933
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
VFW Post 8637: Friday Fish Fry: February 6, Eagle River
WXPR Concert Series at Nicolet College: February 6, Rhinelander
Conover Sno-Buddies Chili Cook-Off: February 7, Eagle River
Chili Ski-In/Snowshoe-In/Walk-In: February 7, Florence
Phelps School Winter Carvinal: February 7, Phelps
Whitetail Inn Presents: Ride wtih the Champs - 33nd Annual: February 7, St. Germain
Nicolet College Presents: The Art Gypsies Trunk Show: February 6-7, Eagle River
10th Annual Labatt Blue USA Adult Pond Hockey Championships: February 6-8, Eagle River
Conover Lion's Club Winter Frolicks: February 8, Eagle River
Olson Memorial Library - Take your child to the library day: February 8, Eagle River
Eagle River Farmers' Market - Winter: February 11, Eagle River
The Diamonds at Campanile: February 12, Minocqua
WXPR Live from the White Pine: February 12, Rhinelander
Northwoods Childrens Museum - Special Needs Night: February 12, Eagle River
Rhinelander Lion’s Club Fisheree & Winter Festival: February 14, Rhinelander
Please contact me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov if you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from my E-Updates
Office of Representative Rob Swearingen
Room 123 West
PO Box 8953, Madison WI 53708
Office: 608-266-7141
Toll Free: 888-534-0034