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City of Oshkosh Total: |
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July 20, 2000: Winnebago County Executive Jane Van De Hey presented an overview of her proposed 5 year capital improvement budget at the Coughlin Center before an audience of about 40 that included supervisors, county officials, and about 7 members of the public. The budget, broken down into levy supported projects and non-levy supported projects, represents over 50 million dollars of expenditures.
Commentary attended the February 7 meeting of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee--the meeting at which the committee was supposed to hear public input on various board reform issues--and it turns out that the July 20 meeting was similar in many ways. For one thing, both meetings occurred on prime nights for WWF wrestling (the 2/7 meeting occurred on a Monday Night Raw night; the 7/20 on a Thursday Night Smackdown). Does the county board seriously think that the public can be mobilized to attend forums on nights when the forums compete with the highest rated cable programming in the nation? Van De Hey and Maehl just don't stand a chance when put up against Chyna and The Rock.
In all seriousness, the February 7 and the July 20 meeting were like wrestling matches. Who were/are the opponents? As in all county board discussions these days, everything seems to be a battle between the "old guard" and the "reformers." The two meetings dealt with completely different topics, but Commentary left both meetings feeling that the issues under discussion were secondary to the political dynamic being played out. At both meetings, county supervisor Bill Wingren--who is rumored to be considering a step into the ring with Van De Hey in next year's County Executive race--came with a prepared statement . Wingren's July 20 statement, like his February 7 effort, chided the board for its insensitivity to the taxpayers and made a proposal . The 2/7 proposal was for the creation of a county building commission; the July 20 proposal was for the creation of a blue ribbon citizens' committee on the future of Wittman Field. Commentary finds Wingren's calls for commissions and committees a bit odd , since one of the key claims of the board "reformers" is that there are already too many board committees. Wingren also promised that the County Building Commission proposal would come within 60 days of the February 7 meeting. To our knowledge, no such proposal has yet arrived. Perhaps Mr. Wingren should offer the Board and citizens an explanation for the delay?
By far the most entertaining part of the July 20 meeting (with the possible exception of County Executive Van De Hey habitually engaging in little side conversations while others addressed the audience--so much for listening sessions) was the little spat between Wingren and supervisor Tom Widener over the proposal to build a new control tower at Wittman Field.
Wingren: "Is it really necessary to spend $3.5 million for a new control tower even if the County's contribution is only $400,000? Isn't there a less expensive way to add bathrooms and make the existing tower handicap accessible?"
Widener: "That's a cheap shot, Wingren! . . . The tower is about safety, not bathrooms . . . I want to fight to keep the airport viable."
Commentary actually attended the July 20 meeting in the hopes that there might be a battle over the UWFV theater project that the County Exec claims is too expensive to put in the 5 year plan right now. It was two hours into the meeting before the topic even came up, and when it did the audience (at least the 30 or so who were still remaining by that time) was treated to a written statement from the town of Vinland chairman (read by a citizen) as to why the theater project is not a good idea. That got a rise out of county board chair Joe Maehl, who claimed that opponents of the theater project need to be "educated."
The meeting ended with supervisor JoAnn Sievert floating once again the idea of placing a referendum on the November ballot that would ask citizens if they would like to create a sales tax to pay for the jail and other projects. The idea did not seem to go over very well with anyone present. Commentary happened to be sitting next to Supervisor Julie Pung-Leschke, turned to her and asked "does she [Sievert] honestly think that taxpayers would vote to create a new tax on themselves?" Leschke, who must be thanked for identifying the names of several people at the meeting previously unknown to Commentary, agreed that citizens probably do not want to see the tax. Geraldine Jay, owner of Jerry Jay's picture frame shop on North Main Street in Oshkosh, attended the meeting and told Commentary that for small business owners, the sales tax is a "pain in the ass."
The Oshkosh Northwestern and some of the supervisors seem to find it troubling that more people don't come to such public forums. Should it really be that surprising that more people don't come? Sure, there's lots of apathy out there. Sure, Wingren is right that the administration could do a better job of explaining the rationale for capital projects and other spending items. But consider this: a husband and wife get up at 6 a.m., take the kids to school or to summer activities, work an 8 hour day, get the kids, and eat dinner. Are they then really in the mood or in a position to go to a public forum? Lots of people in Oshkosh go to Waterfest on a Thursday night. Should they feel guilty for going there instead of to a meeting in which the County Exec is merely proposing a plan? Not to mention the fact that the County Exec took two hours to present something that could have probably been presented in half that time? Commentary is the last critic to make excuses for apathy, but we would ask those public officials so appalled by the low turnout at such meetings to recall what life was like before they became a public official. Julie Pung-Leschke, called a "straight arrow" by the Oshkosh Northwestern and one of Commentary's most popular guests, said in her first appearance on the program that before she got elected she never really was that much involved in county government.
As an aside, Commentary learned from County Executive Van De Hey that a request was made of Oshkosh Cable Access Television--by Van De Hey--that they come to the meeting and either broadcast it live or tape it for future broadcast. OCAT apparently did not have the resources available to do it. What is clearly needed in the city of Oshkosh is what Time-Warner Cable is apparently unwilling to give: a third cable access channel that would cover only government events. There certainly are more than enough events that need to be covered, and, with local politicians' insistence that more people need to be involved, the third channel would seem to be a necessity. Let's hope that the city's negotiators are bringing this message to Time-Warner during the franchise renewal talks. We can't have a government channel but we can have several channels that do nothing but promote network and cable programming?
Finally, if anyone knows what happened on WWF Smackdown while Commentary was observing the wrestling match at the Coughlin Center, please e-mail Tony Palmeri.
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[NOTE: Mr. Wingren delivered an extemporaneous version of these remarks at the hearing. After the meeting he gave Commentary permission to publish the written text on this site].
I am concerned about recent newspaper accounts wherein Winnebago County officials castigate taxpayers for their lack of participation in these budget hearings.
It is my experience that the taxpayers of this County are eager and willing to participate in the affairs of government when they are informed of the issue details and when their opinions and comments are genuinely sought.
Despite the comments of some County officials, the exercise tonight is one designed to possibly exclude the public from the discussion and to ram through a $58 million capital budget that is long on spending and short on details.
Not only is the public in the dark as to what this capital budget represents but so are most members of the Board. I doubt that any one of us could pass even the most elementary test on what is being proposed here this evening.
Here is the only information this County has provided the public from the County's website.
As is my practice, I have taken a walk through my District and have asked people to give me their input. They look at the document and and wonder what I'm talking about.
It's a list of numbers that add up to $58 million ($$$$). There is not one page of supporting documentation, not one page justifying the expenditure of a single dollar. Presumably, if the public wants to know how this money is going to be spent, they can come with hat-in-hand and make the rounds of the various agencies proposing the spending.
Part of the government's responsibility is to educate the public as to how their tax dollars are being spent. When I was a teacher, I constantly told kids, "Show your work!" If the answer was right or wrong we could analyze the thought process and learn from that.
Earlier this year the County spent over $20,000 to send Supervisors to Washington so that they could become "informed" on the issues of the day.
Could we not find a few hundred dollars in our budget to inform our own taxpayers on how we plan to spend $58 million?
Recently this board had a representative in Germany to educate the Germans about the tourism possibilities in Winnebago County.
Could we not find the money to educate our own taxpayers as to why and how we plan to spend $58 million of their hard-earned money?
Not so long ago this Board had a representative at an EAA convention in Florida to learn what that organization believes the County should be doing.
We have not made a similar effort to find out what our own residents think we should be doing.
I will accept at face value that those who lament the lack of public input are sincere in their lamenting.
In keeping with this desire for direction from the public, I have drafted a resolution that I will give to all Board members that creates a Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on the Future of Wittman Field and which eliminates all capital spending for the airport until the Committee has submitted its recommendations to the Board.
There is no issue before this body that cries out more for public input, advice and consultation than does the County's strategy - or lack therof - in dealing with the airport. Almost on a weekly basis, I am tossed questions from taxpayers about the airport and I can't answer them nor, I believe, can any other member of this body:
We have consulted with all sorts of interests to tell us what our strategy should be at Wittman Field.
We have consulted with the EAA.
We have consulted with the Chamber of Commerce.
We have consulted with out-of-state experts and paid them handsomely for their advice.
We have consulted with virtually every politician there is.
We have even directed the UW Extension office to write us a glowing report.
But we have not consulted with the taxpayers, the very people who can make or break this airport. We have not asked for their advice, their ideas or their thoughts. Instead, as governments usually do, we have excluded the taxpayers from the discussion and instead have turned to hired guns and special interests.
My resolution for a Blue Ribbon Commission on Wittman Field will include membership from a broad spectrum of representatives from cities, towns, and villages from throughout the county. It also includes representatives from business groups and the EAA.
Until such time as the Blue Ribbon panel is formed and its report filed with the Board, I shall oppose further capital spending at the airport.
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Bill Wingren,Supervisor Winnebago County Board 1021 Evans Street Oshkosh WI 54901
August 1, 2000
Is this how the great experiment called American Democracy is being played out in the year 2000?
At the National level-unfortunately, YES!
Two members of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors have a plan to help change that at the local level. We can do better. In fact, we must do better.
It’s time to get back to the basics. It’s time to listen to real people one on one.
Bill Wingren started going house to house when he first ran for the Board.
He continued doing so after he was elected.
Bill Wingren has rented a booth at the Winnebago County Fair. He paid for it himself. That’s not all.
Bill has enlisted the support of fellow Supervisor-Tom Pech Jr. Tom started having “office hours” when he was first elected to the Board.
Tom and Bill simply want to listen to the people they represent. In fact, other Board members have been invited to join them at the Fair booth to listen and learn from the citizens.
All Winnebago County residents are invited to visit the Fair booth and “Share at the Fair”.
It’s easy. Just stop at the booth, pull up a chair, and let’s chat. We want to know what you think.
We know that real wisdom rests with the people. Please, share your ideas, comments, questions, and criticisms.
Bill and Tom believe that politics is not a spectator sport.
We all need to get involved.
So please come and SHARE AT THE FAIR.
The booth is located in the Exposition Building and we have a tentative schedule of:
Tuesday August 8th 5:00-8:00 PM Wednesday August 9th 5:00-8:00 PM Thursday August 10th 3:00-8:00 PM Friday August 11th 3:00-8:00 PM Saturday August 12th 12:00-9:00 PM Sunday August 13th 12:00-5:00 PM
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Note: Winnebago County Board Chairman Joseph Maehl makes much of the "orientation" that newly elected Supervisors receive. What follows are the minutes of the most recent orientation session. Perhaps it should be called "The Sayings of Chairman Maehl"?
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Sun 13-Aug-2000
Sometimes the choices our elected officials make are rather simple: raise taxes or cut spending. The issue of a proposed half-percent sales tax in Winnebago County boils down to that choice.
Some supervisors are fretting about how they are going to pay for a $25 million jail, afford a thick $50 million program of capital improvements and keep feeding the insatiable appetite for spending.
So they are resorting to a tried-and-true formula: raising taxes.
And honestly, a sales tax fills all of the county's financial holes quite nicely. It allows the board to build and fund everything it wants.
Spending more is something we'd all like to do in our homes and businesses - that is, if we had the luxury of unilaterally doing that. But families and businesses do not have an unlimited supply of new revenues like government has found with taxpayers.
We have to make tough choices about wants and needs.
What is the board looking to cut to make ends meet?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Instead, some supervisors want to raise your taxes - again.
A resolution to schedule a Nov. 7 referendum on a half-percent sales tax is on the board's meeting agenda Tuesday.
Families getting ready for a big purchase usually scrimp and save to afford of buying a new car or home. What did Winnebago County do in the years leading to the construction of a new jail?
It increased property taxes three consecutive years and raised spending 10 percent one year.
The board has not even scheduled a hearing to review the county executive's five-year $50 million capital improvement plan (which includes the $25 million jail). These big ticket items are key places to look for ways to save money.
We spotted several projects that should be examined and perhaps delayed to reduce expenses, including the relocation of the health department, the Community Park road development program, a new juvenile detention facility and creating additional office space.
These projects alone represent $8.2 million in potential savings. New opportunities for savings will also be found in the county's 2001 budget which is currently being prepared by the executive.
The smooth sales pitch for a sales tax is just hot air. Consider that sales taxes:
Are regressive and hurt people with the least ability to pay.
Infrequently, if ever, are repealed even if officials include sunset clauses and promises to end the taxes, according to the non-partisan and independent Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. The WTA says none of the 53 Wisconsin counties that have approved sales taxes ever removed them from the books.
Seldom are used to reduce property taxes. In fact, Winnebago's proposal speaks only of paying for the jail. It does not mention what the county would do with the money already allocated for the jail.
Are not primarily shouldered by tourists and visitors. The most generous estimate is that about 30 percent of a county sales tax would be generated by tourists. A sales tax only adds to the pile of taxes you pay, it subtracts nothing.
Put local retailers at a competitive disadvantage, especially in Winnebago County which is already facing fierce competition with Fond du Lac and Outagamie counties for retail business. It gives shoppers another reason to spend their dollars some place else.
It's time for Winnebago County to practice fiscal discipline.
Stop raising taxes. Don't bother asking the public if it wants a sales tax on top of everything else. The answer is "No."
Reduce your appetite for spending.
People are fed up with high taxes.
The Final Thought: The Winnebago County Board should reduce spending instead of asking voters to approve a sales tax.
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I have to say that I disagree with the Northwestern's interpretation of Chuck's numbers regarding the sales tax for Winnebago County. Although initially it sounds better that citizens might be paying $266 or $300 instead of $400 for the jail, a few things were not taken into account. First, the time value of money is a significant issue - people make the decision on a daily basis in their personal lives to pay a little more in order to not have to pay immediately for their purchases. To pay $266 or $300 over 3 years compared to paying $400 over 10 years puts the question in a completely different perspective. The other issue is that the temporary nature of a sales tax is a myth.
Ultimately, the cost to citizens of Winnebago County will BEGIN with paying for the new jail and continue with paying for other projects that would otherwise not be undertaken. The risk to Winnebago County residents in imposing a sales tax is that taxes will be raised permanently (for example, $266 to $300 EVERY three years FOREVER - suddenly $400 sounds like a much better choice). I truly believe creating a new pot of money for politicians will create more careless spending in the county and I feel very comfortable having voted against a sales tax referendum for Winnebago County.
Thanks for listening.
Julie Leschke
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Sun 17-Sep-2000 Oshkosh Northwestern Editorial
If there was one unmistaken message from Tuesday's referendum vote in Brown County, it was that residents told their county officials to learn to live within their means.
Voters begrudgingly supported higher taxes for the Packers, but they were unwilling to use any portion of the Lambeau Field sales tax for Brown County. We hope Winnebago County officials got the message.
The first question authorizing an overhaul of Lambeau passed, but question two which asked if Brown County could use excess revenue from the tax for property-tax relief failed with 45 percent of voters supporting the proposal, 55 percent rejecting it.
What residents across northeast Wisconsin have discovered is that real property-tax relief does not happen when they give government more money. The key to lower property taxes is reducing spending, not sending more money to the county. That only perpetuates the spending addiction, it does not break it.
But some Winnebago County Supervisors still will not admit their addiction to taxation. Board Chairman Joseph Maehl last week resurrected the proposal for a half-percent sales tax by announcing he will appoint a nine-member committee to "objectively" study a sales tax to pay for building a new county jail and report back to the board in November.
Last month, the board convincingly squashed a proposed November referendum on a half-percent sales tax.
Maehl needs to appoint a committee to look at reducing spending in Winnebago County, not imposing another tax on its residents.
Instead, county officials statewide are resorting to scare tactics and promising draconian cuts in services to pout and protest residents proclaiming enough is enough on taxes. Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum calls the coming 2001 budget "the most difficult that the board will have to go through."
Similarly, Winnebago County Executive Jane Van De Hey ordered department heads to cut 3.5 percent across-the-board from their 2001 budget requests to cover expected shortfalls in the county's nursing home.
Such tough talk was needed years ago when county constructed and renovated half-a-dozen buildings, built a racetrack and covered horse barn and increased spending 10 percent.
Now with an expensive jail project on the horizon - estimated from $25 to $35 million -the county is whining that it cannot afford a jail. The sorry truth is that strong economic growth would more than cover such projects if the county hadn't recklessly spent for so many years.
And we should send these tax addicts more money?
It's time to make them kick their spending habit cold turkey.
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Winnebago County Supervisors support Charlene Lowe, the challenger, over Jane Van De Hey, the incumbent, for Winnebago County Executive by a 2-1 margin. The winner will be decided in the April 3, 2001 election. With 30 of the 38 supervisors responding to a telephone survey, 13 said they would vote for Lowe while only 6 said they would vote for Van De Hey. In addition, seven said they had "no comment" and four said they were "undecided." One supervisor, Bill Wingren of Oshkosh, said he would write in his own name for the position because he could not support either candidate. The telephone survey was conducted by Commentary staff on Monday and Tuesday (March 11 and 12). Confidentiality of names was guranteed in the survey. Off the record comments by several supervisors, however, predicted a very close election. Dissatisfaction with Van De Hey rests with her failure to build a new county jail and her inability to often tell the truth. Lowe's short residency in Winnebago County was also mentioned as a reason for not supporting her candidacy. |
Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Members (left
to right): Harvey Rengstorf, Don Griesbach, Andy King, Pat O'Brien,
Bill Wingren. Are the Gas Station Gals that much of a threat to the
county that we now need an armored vehicle?