Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Final Report Published

As you may know, I served on the Governor's Commission on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse for the past year, the primary goal of which was to identify waste, fraud, or abuse in state spending and appropriations and to recommend solutions. My colleagues and I on the Commission investigated many different areas where state taxpayer dollars are spent and sent a report to the Governor about our findings. Throughout the process, I was particularly interested in identifying fraud and waste in the delivery and use of our state's public assistance programs such as Medical Assistance and FoodShare. The Commission identified many areas in these programs and in numerous others in which efficiencies can be made. This effort has been a priority of Governor Walker's administration and this information will prove valuable as we move forward to the next budget cycle.

Eagle Scout Jacob Bixler

This past Saturday, I was invited to attend the Court of Honor ceremony for Boy Scout, Jacob Bixler, of Troop 380 in Twin Lakes. At the ceremony, Jacob was officially awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable through the Boy Scouts of America. Congratulations Jacob!

Rep. Kerkman with Eagle Scout, Jacob Bixler, and his family

 Tax Information Online

Property tax bills were sent out in December and some of you may have questions regarding your bill. The Department of Revenue (DOR) has revamped their website and now includes a page dedicated to information about property taxes. This is a great resource and provides detailed information about bills, assessment and equalization, property tax credits, and other assistance available.

Additionally, the website also contains a great deal of information about individual income taxes. If you still have concerns after visiting the site, feel free to contact the DOR's customer service bureau by phone. They can address your questions about property and individual income tax returns. Contact (608) 266-2772 with questions and the department will be happy to assist you.

Nominate a Youth for Kenosha County Youth in Governance

UW Extension is accepting nominations for high school students for the Kenosha County Youth in Governance Program. This program allows highly-motivated youth the opportunity to serve for a whole year as an advisory member of one of the Kenosha County Board's committees. This is a great program that helps students gain instrumental leadership skills and first-hand knowledge about the workings of local government in our area. The requirements to participate are that the youth must be a Kenosha County resident in the 10th or 11th grade with a GPA of 2.5 or above. Also, the youth must be able to attend monthly committee meetings and other scheduled meetings. Any adult can nominate a youth they think has the interest and potential to be selected for the program. For a nomination form and more information about the program, contact John de Montmollin at Kenosha County UW Extension at 262-857-1945. I encourage you to nominate a student you know for this fantastic opportunity!

Wilmot Mountain Tubing Runs Now Open

This past weekend was the grand opening of the new tubing runs at Wilmot Mountain ski area. I was able to visit the hill last week and received a tour of the facility from Dennis Sheen, Wilmot's general manager. The brand new tubing area is impressive and is a great way for both children and adults to enjoy some outdoor winter fun. I encourage you to go try out the new tubing hill, which is separate from the ski area. It's another great attraction in our community that will provide fun for the whole family for many winters to come.

Rep. Kerkman with Dennis Sheen, general manager of Wilmot Mountain

If you are interested in tracking the progress of legislation introduced this session, please visit http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ and click on the Notification Service link found on the homepage.