Top Stories, March 17th

Governors Reduction Vs. Benefit Savings Spreadsheet

3/17/11 - The governor’s office has released a detailed budget savings breakdown outlining the difference between his proposed cutbacks in shared revenue and the savings from health insurance and pension reductions outlined in his budget repair bill.

County Government

According to the governor’s spreadsheets, the general state aid cuts will result in Dodge County gaining around $2.3 million next year once savings from health insurance and retirement are factored in. The county received around $6.8 million in general state aid this year but will see reductions next year of over $1.2 million. By making workers pay more toward their health coverage, the county stands to save nearly $1.5 million, plus another $2 million from pension contribution savings. County Administrator James Mielke says the $2.3 million dollar figure sounds a little on the high side and they are relying on their internal projections, which he is not commenting on. The governor’s estimate puts savings in Columbia County at $1.6 million; Jefferson County would get $1.3 million, Fond du Lac County and Washington are looking at around $2.3 in net savings.

Municipal Government

The city of Beaver Dam gets $2.4 million in state aid and would see reductions of nearly $284,000. According to the governor’s figures, the city would save over $318,000 from employees paying more into their health insurance and retirement accounts and come out ahead by $34,000. The same spreadsheet indicates that Horicon will benefit to the tune of $12,800. Clerk-Treasurer Dave Pasewald says he “seriously doubts” that that will be the case and was quick to point out that the figures do not include cuts to municipal recycling budgets, which in Horicon amounts to $37,000. The governor’s figures also indicate that Fox Lake will get an additional $12,800 next year, Columbus would benefit by $83,000, Juneau would see $39,000 more, Mayville would get $27,000 more and Waupun would see $124,000 from the “tools” provided by the governor. Of the eleven villages in Dodge County, five of them would lose at least some money, the most being the village of Theresa which stands to lose just over $13,000. The Village of Hustisford would benefit by nearly $12,000. All 24 towns in Dodge County would lose some money, with the Town of Beaver Dam taking the biggest hit at nearly $30,000.

School Districts

Under the governor’s formula, many area school districts are projected to break even or gain funding. Columbus schools are slated to lose over $630,000 in general aid but could realize net savings from the change in benefits near $650,000. After factoring revenue limits into the equation, Columbus could see benefits savings around $125,000. Cambria-Friesland is estimated to save $69,000; Horicon and Lomira would see over $120,000; Mayville’s savings would be over $170,000; Randolph $32,000; Rubicon and Watertown would save over $60,000; the Waupun School District could gain over a half million. In total, the governor says 329 school districts in state would not need to make spending cuts while 94 would still lose money. That includes the Fall River School District which is facing a$56,000 shortfall; Hustisford and Dodgeland are looking at a loss of around $13,000.

BDUSD

The governor’s numbers show the Beaver Dam School District gaining $265,000. However, Superintendent Steve Vessey says that number does not include a variety of factors not related to the governor’s budget that will still result in red ink for the district. Beaver Dam would see a $2 million reduction in state aid next year but would also see $2.1 million in benefits savings. Those numbers are based on schools carrying health care coverage through Wisconsin Education Association. However, Beaver Dam is one of the few school districts in the state that switched to private coverage and has already experienced the savings the governor is talking about. That combined with a loss of nearly a million dollars in federal stimulus dollars still has officials scrambling to cover a projected shortfall of $2.9 million over the next two years. Vessey says they are looking at making operations more efficient but lay-offs are likely. The governor’s figures also do not reflect losses in grant funding. Vessey says an alcohol and drug prevention grant and another grant for at-risk youth could cost the district over $150,000.

Columbus, Townships Tentatively Agree To EMS Extension

3/17/11 - The City of Columbus and seven surrounding Townships have used a contracted EMS service ever since LifeStar Ambulance signed a contract in 2009. LifeStar’s two-year contract with the City expires on December 31st. The Council Ad Hoc EMS Committee and the “Rural Group” from the townships have reached verbal agreement to extend the LifeStar contract till December 2012. Many local officials are very satisfied with the paramedic level EMS service that LifeStar provides. However, there is also a group of officials wanting to explore formation of a local “EMS District” that could provide adequate service at a lower cost.

Ruling In Capitol Closing Expected in May

3/17/11 - A judge in Madison will not decide until late May how open the State Capitol should be, and whether the Walker administration should be held in contempt for closing the Capitol last week. Peg Lautenschlager, an attorney for two public unions, filed new legal actions after Circuit Judge John Albert ruled 12 days ago that the Capitol should be as open as it was before the demonstrations on the union bargaining bill. Lautenschlager wants the judge to end the new rules that require people to use only certain doors to enter the Capitol, and go through metal detectors. She also wants Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch held in contempt of Albert’s order after the Capitol doors were closed last Wednesday night when the Senate passed the union bargaining restrictions. The building was also closed for four hours the next morning for a security sweep. Lautenschlager says she strongly disagrees with the administration’s claim that there’s a higher security need at the statehouse. She and Assistant Attorney General Steve Means are looking for a “special master” who would mediate access issues and determine if Albert’s previous order is being enforced. It’s quiet now, but concerns could rise again during hearings this spring on the proposed new state budget.

Titletown Tables Pro-Union Resolution

3/17/11 - City aldermen in Green Bay have refused to take a stand on a proposed resolution to support public employee unions in their battle against the governor. The City Council in Titletown voted 7-to-5 Tuesday night to table the resolution, proposed by Aldermen Tom DeWane and Ned Dorff. There was no discussion among the Council members, and union leaders and others in the audience were not given the chance to speak on the measure. Several shouted their disapproval – and some later said the Council was wrong not to allow public debate. The resolution said the Council quote, “stands in solidarity with the hard-working men and women of the public sector.”

Hero Pilot Weighs In On Controversy

3/17/11 - Legendary Wisconsin pilot Jeff Skiles has flown directly into the controversy over Governor Scott Walker’s public union bargaining restrictions. Skiles said he has withdrawn what he called “hundreds of thousands of dollars” from M-and-I Bank in protest of the bank executives who gave money to Walker’s campaign. Skiles, of Oregon in Dane County, said he wanted to send a message to those donors. He said he did not close his M-and-I accounts, and he put the money in other financial institutions. Skiles co-piloted the U-S Airways plane that landed in the Hudson River in early 2009, saving the lives of 155 passengers. He’s also a member of the U-S Airways Pilots Association. Skiles said the policies of the Republican Walker appear to be quote, “a Tea Party takeover of our state government.” Several public unions have called for boycotts of M-and-I and other businesses. M-and-I is in the process of being sold to a Canadian bank. Company spokesman Sara Schmitz said the bank has seen a quote, “limited number of account withdrawals” in the past few weeks, while new accounts have opened. M-and-I says it has not donated to political candidates as a company. But its employees are free to donate to whoever they want – and they gave money to both Walker and his election opponent last fall, Democrat Tom Barrett.

Assembly Democrat Admits Sexual Misconduct

3/17/11 - State Assembly Democrat Gordon Hintz has pleaded no contest to patronizing a massage parlor in Appleton that police were investigating for alleged prostitution. The 37-year-old Hintz, from Oshkosh, entered his plea to a city citation in Appleton for sexual misconduct. And he paid a fine of just over two-thousand-30-dollars. Hintz was cited on February 10th in connection with an ongoing police probe at the Heavenly Touch Massage Parlor. Officers searched the massage parlor and a nearby house in late January. They staked out the place for several days after getting a tip. Hintz issued a statement of apology, saying he made a bad decision that was “out of character” for him.

Police Investigate GOP Petition Harassment

3/17/11 - Police in Merrill say they’ll try to determine if a woman committed a crime by tearing up petitions to force a recall election against state Senate Democrat Jim Holperin. Kim Simac, a leader of the recall committee, said a female union supporter pretended to be interested in signing when she wrote a profanity on one petition and tore up others that were signed. It happened last week as recall supporters tried to get signatures outside the Lincoln County Courthouse. Simac said her group is looking for more civility. Merrill Police Chief Ned Seubert said his investigators would review T-V footage of the incident to try-and-identify the woman. And the chief said he would tell prosecutors about any complaints he gets from people who were prevented from signing petitions at the rally. Simac has not said how many signatures her group has. They need almost 16-thousand by April 22nd to force a recall election.

Gingrich Coming To Wisconsin

3/17/11 - Former U-S House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista will be at Marquette University later this month. They’ll appear at a free program on March 29th to promote a new documentary about the late Pope John Paul-the-Second. The Gingrich couple helped produce the film called “Nine Days that Changed the World.” It’s about the pope’s visit to his native Poland in 1979. Many observers said the visit triggered Poland’s Solidarity movement in 1980 that later overturned Communism in that nation. The film was produced with the help of Citizens United, the group that won a Supreme Court case last year in which businesses were allowed to give corporate donations to political candidates. Gingrich is also a potential Republican candidate for the White House in 2012 – and he’ll announce in a few weeks whether he’ll run.

BDAAA Book Sale Begins Today

3/17/11 - A fundraising book sale for the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association gets underway today at the Heritage Village Mall. Arts Association Board President Julie Fleming says books are marked as low as 25 cents and there are also video tapes, DVDs and CDs. She says the money is needed to help with operating expenses. The book sale is going on today and tomorrow from 10am to 8pm and closes out with a $1 bag sale Saturday from 10am to 1pm.