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Time for the Guv to morph into Chris Christie (6/28/2011)

Time for Gov. Walker to talk more about the cake (3/4/2011)

Today, reality hits home (3/1/2011)

FoxPolitics News going on hiatus (1/28/2011)

Brown County Executive candidate forum Feb. 8 (1/28/2011)

Education done right (1/27/2011)

To Obama, the ‘We’ is Government (1/27/2011)

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The [Common Council] also examined potential programs they thought deserved funding going forward because Doyle's budget allows for a 3.86 percent increase in levy spending this year.

In the city's budget, councilors said that amounts to an additional $260,000 that could be spent if they choose. But councilors would have to agree on whether programs like geese maintenance in parks, salary adjustments or establishing a deferred maintenance fund should get the green light.

Then Fond du Lac - the city and the county!

Now that Doyle has raised the levy limit cap to 3.86 percent, the city has more freedom to increase property taxes, which may occur. [City Administration Director Hal] Wortman said the state is giving the city $115,760 less than anticipated — a move that could force officials to raise taxes or make cuts. City leaders will discuss their options during budget workshops on Nov. 14 and 15.”

The county also must [must??] adjust its budget. Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel overestimated the levy limit and had to cut $500,000 from the budget when legislators approved a 2.25 percent cap. Due to Doyle's veto, the county now needs to cut only $49,253.

And just for kicks, add St. Croix County to the mix.

County Finance Director Michelle Pietrick said Monday that she had initially believed the governor’s increase of the levy cap to 3.86 percent wouldn’t have enough impact on St. Croix County to justify changing its budget at this point.

But by Monday morning, she had changed her mind. “Doyle’s action allows the county to levy another $198,175 — enough that it’s worth considering,” said Pietrick.

Wow. That makes me want to scream.

And finally this bit of advice from Bill Berry writing for the Capital Times:

Lawmakers and others who favor big government over local control practice an odd kind of doublespeak. They say they want to protect the interests of local folks, but they step all over the principle of local rule to satisfy their political agendas…..

But maybe people in some local communities can't and won't stomach this modest [modest???] increase [2% cap to a 3.86% cap]. They are powerless to do anything about it, right? Not exactly. They can attend budget hearings and tell the free-wheeling local spenders to cut it out, even if it means less snowplowing for local streets. And gosh, before you know it, local elections will be held again. They can do something really radical then and unelect the local spendthrifts. What a quaint idea. Yes, folks have these and other tools, including a good tongue-lashing for their local officials when they meet in aisle four of the local supermarket ….

The point is, local folks have plenty of control over their local governments if they're interested enough to take part. [Added emphases are mine.]

Exactly right. It’s up to us. My community isn’t falling prey to the increased levy cap. What’s happening with the (total) tax levy in yours?

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