3/13/2015

Capitol Update
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Farm Bureau: Ag Day at the Capitol
This week members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau had their legislative day at the State Capitol. I had the opportunity to meet with members from the Sauk, Iowa, Grant, Juneau, Green and Lafayette County Farm Bureau organizations. As someone who grew up on a dairy farm, the state of agriculture in Wisconsin is very important to me. I am glad that I received feedback about agricultural issues in our community. Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

In the District

Business and School Tours throughout Juneau County
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit with WM Sprinkman Corporation in Elroy, WI. I was able to get a tour of the facility and learn about their manufacturing operation. Like many of our employers, Sprinkman Corp is hiring employees. They need welders, like many of our manufacturers in the 17th Senate District.

I enjoyed having lunch with the 7th and 8th grade leaders at Olson Middle School in Mauston. I had the opportunity to view the welding program at Mauston High School, which is a cooperative effort with Western Technical College. Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and learn about your facility and schools!

Joint Finance Committee Public Hearings
The Joint Finance Committee announced that there will be four public hearings scheduled around the state as the next step in the budget process. I want to remind my constituents that the proposals in the Governor’s budget are not set in stone. I encourage my constituents to attend the hearings if they are able, and continue to share their opinions regarding the budget with me as we continue the process towards a final budget.

I am happy to say that for only the second time in 25 years the Joint Finance Committee will hold one of the public hearings in the 17th Senate District.

On Thursday, March 26 from 9:30am-4:00pm, we will be holding a public hearing at Reedsburg High School. We are fortunate to have a wonderful facility at the CAL center at Reedsburg High School. This is a perfect venue for one of the four statewide public hearings!

Congratulations to the Sports Teams in the District
The 17th Senate District is proving to be filled with a number of all-stars! I want to send out my congratulations to the Cuba City Girls Basketball team (26-0) as they took to the Resch Center floor in Ashwaubenon for a state semifinal against Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs (24-2) yesterday! The Cuba City Girls Basketball team locked in a victory over Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs, 62-56. They will be going for their 11th State Championship on Saturday. Good luck, girls!

I also want to send my congratulations to a number of wrestlers from the 17th Senate District that competed in the State tournament last weekend. Taking first place in the Division 3-120 weight class, Alston Nutter (Fennimore); the Division 3-145 weight class, Cole Martin (Lancaster); and the Division 3-195 weight class, David Chadd (Lancaster). Congrats to all of the wrestlers that competed at state.
 

Congrats to all of our winter sport athletes!

 

Helpful Information


Tax Season Reminder: Pay the Tax on Internet Purchases
As we approach tax season, I would like to include a friendly reminder to pay the Wisconsin use tax. The Wisconsin use tax is a counterpart to the sales tax. All goods and services that are subject to sales tax are subject to the use tax. These goods and services can include out-of-state, online, or catalog purchases. If the retailer does not collect a Wisconsin sales tax, you owe use tax.

The use tax rate is 5% and if you live in a county that imposes a separate county tax, it would be in addition to the 5% tax. If you owe use tax and are filing as an individual, you can pay your use tax on your Wisconsin income tax return.

The payment of the 5% use tax levels the playing field with our traditional “brick and mortar” retailers and our in-state on-line businesses, like Lands’ End.

For more information, please visit the Department of Revenue website: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/usetax.html

Transportation Budget
The Governor’s Transportation Budget does not include any tax or fee increases. Instead, the Governor is proposing, that we bond (borrow) $1.3 billion to meet our transportation needs.

The amount of bonding and debt service has been increasing in the last dozen years or so. Consequently, the percent of our transportation revenue going to debt service has risen from the 7% range to almost 20% this year. The following table summarizes the impact of the growing transportation debt, as well as the projection of debt service under the Governor’s proposed budget.
 

Annual Growth in Transportation Fund Revenues and Transportation Debt Service
($ In Millions)

 

Fiscal Year Transportation Debt Service Amount Debt Service as a % of Revenue
     
1998-99 $87.4 7.1%
1999-00 90.3 7.1
2000-01 94.5 7.4
2001-02 93.3 7.0
2002-03 105.8 7.6
     
2003-04 119.7 8.3
2004-05 166.2 11.3
2005-06 148.2 9.8
2006-07 165.3 10.3
2007-08 187.5 11.3
     
2008-09 191.0 11.3
2009-10 184.8 10.9
2010-11 197.2 11.5
2011-12 240.7 13.8
2012-13 259.5 15.1
     
2013-14 294.2 16.5
2014-15* 349.0 19.5
2015-16** 381.9 21.0
2016-17** 433.4 23.7

Source: Legislative Fiscal Bureau

 

*Estimated amounts from the Department's 2015-17 budget request

**Estimated amounts under Governor's budget proposal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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State Capitol - Room 8 South - Post Office Box 7882 - Madison, Wisconsin 53707 - Phone: (608) 266-0703

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