>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG,
COMING TO YOU TONIGHT FROM A
DIFFERENT SET, WHILE THE LARGER
STUDIO IS BEING USED FOR THE
FUNDRAISING AUCTION.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
EXPANDED SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE
WAUSAU AREA.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
ONGOING TRAUMA OF GUN VIOLENCE
IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY,
MILWAUKEE.
THEN, CAPITOL INSIGHT OF A
PROPOSED CUT OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS
THE STATE'S FORESTRY MILL TAX.
AND THE WISCONTEXT SEGMENT,
GEARING UP FOR DEER TICK SEASON.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL CHOICE
POGRAM IN PLACE FOR FOUR YEARS
NOW.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER DID NOT
PROPOSE EXPANSION OF THE CHOICE
IN THE BUDGET, SO NOT GETTING AS
MUCH AS TENSION AS YEARS PAST.
BUT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS USING VOUCHERS
HAS STABILIZED OR WILL GROW.
TWO YEARS AGO WE LOOKED AT
WAUSAU WHAT EXPANSION OF CHOICE
WOULD MEAN THERE, AND WANTED TO
CHECK BACK IN.
ZAC SCHULTZ FOUND THAT PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON
HOW CHOICE IS WORKING.
>> EIGHT, TAKE EIGHT AWAY, HOW
MUCH DO I HAVE?
>> TWO YEARS AGO, PRINCIPAL BAIL
ZUELSDORFF IN TRINITY LUTHERAN
SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE ANY VOUCHER
STUDENTS.
THEY HAD JUST JOINED THE CHOICE
PROGRAM AND ENDED UP WITH 15 IN
THE FALL.
>> THE FIRST 15 THAT WE HAD THE
FIRST YEAR PROBABLY TWO-THIRDS
OF THOSE WERE STUDENTS WE
ALREADY HAD HERE, SO DID NOT
REALLY GROW THAT MUCH.
THAT'S FIVE.
SIX.
YEP.
>> IN YEAR TWO, GROWN TO 27
CHOICE STUDENTS.
18% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT.
>> SOME OF THE FAMILIES I HAVE
ARE NEW FAMILIES THAT WOULD BE
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT PROBABLY
THE MAJORITY OF CHOICE FAMILIES
ARE FAMILIES ALREADY HERE.
>> JUST FROM A RAW NUMBER
STANDPOINT, POSTURED TO GROW.
>> A MILE AWAY, NEWMAN CATHOLIC
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MIKE MARTIN HAS
SEEN IT GROW.
>> 14,000 PLUS STUDENTS IN THE
WAUSAU METROPOLITAN AREA AND WE
HAVE 94 OF THOSE STUDENTS RIGHT
NOW.
>> IT'S CERTAINLY A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON US.
>> KATHLEEN WILLIAMS IS RETIRING
AS SUPERINTENDENT OF WAUSAU
PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS YEAR AND HAS
NOT CHANGED HER MIND ON THE
DANGERS OF THE CHOICE PROGRAM.
>> PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AT THE
SURFACE, NO BIG DEAL.
IT IS A BIG DEAL.
>> THIS YEAR, 82 STUDENTS THAT
LIVE IN THE WAUSAU SCHOOL
DISTRICT ARE ATTENDING PRIVATE
SCHOOL WITH A VOUCHER.
THE STATE CAPS THE NUMBER OF
KIDS THAT EACH DISTRICT CAN LOSE
AT 1%.
FOR WAUSAU, 86 VOUCHER STUDENTS,
BUT THE CAP WILL INCREASE TO 2%
NEXT YEAR, THEY COULD LOSE 172.
THE NEARBY D.C. EVEREST SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS LOST 37 VOUCHER
STUDENTS, AT 2% CAP, COULD LOSE
118.
ADD IT UP, NEXT YEAR, 290
VOUCHERS AVAILABLE IN THE WAUSAU
AREA.
>> I PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 2,000
CATHOLIC KIDS IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF MY CHALLENGES, HOW DO I
GET THEM BACK TO CATHOLIC
EDUCATION.
>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF
SEATS WE COULD FILL AND IF IT'S
THROUGH THE CHOICE PROGRAM, THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD OPTION.
>> THE KEY IS HOW THAT IMPACT IS
GOING TO GROW.
>> KATHLEEN WILLIAMS IS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING
COST OF CHOICE, IN PARTICULAR
BECAUSE WAUSAU PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE PAYING FOR THOSE VOUCHERS.
AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RAISE
PROPERTY TAXES TO DO SO.
>> THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SCRUTINIZING THEIR TAX BILLS ARE
GOING TO SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, THE
WAUSAU SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
CHARGING MORE MONEY.
>> ORIGINALLY, SCHOOL CHOICE WAS
FUNDED DIRECTLY BY THE STATE,
BUT IN THE LAST BUDGET, THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY SHIFTED THAT
SO EACH VOUCHER STUDENT COUNTS
TOWARDS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S
ENROLLMENT.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES THEIR
LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS FOR THE
VOUCHER COST AND THE STATE
WITHHOLDS THAT AMOUNT FROM THE
SCHOOL'S LAST STATE AID PAYMENT
AND SENDS THE MONEY TO THE
PRIVATE SCHOOL.
>> THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT DANGER
IN MY MIND.
WE MAY BE LOSING THOSE TAX
DOLLARS AND THOSE STUDENTS, BUT
I THINK THE GREATER IMPACT IS
THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.
THAT OUR TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING
CHOICE.
>> LAST YEAR, WAUSAU SCHOOLS
INCREASED THEIR PROPERTY TAX
LEVY BY $428,000, TO PAY FOR
THOSE 82 VOUCHERS.
THAT WORKS OUT TO AN EXTRA $16 A
YEAR FOR THE OWNER OF A $150,000
HOUSE.
BUT THAT HOMEOWNER WOULD NOT
KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT THEIR TAX
BILL.
BECAUSE IT'S HIDDEN IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAX LINE.
>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD
THE TERM WE NEED TO BE
TRANSPARENT?
THEN LET'S BE TRANSPARENT.
LETS LET EVERYBODY FULLY
UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR DOLLARS
ARE GOING.
>> THOSE CHOICE DOLLARS HAVE
BECOME A CRITICAL PART OF THE
CHOICE SCHOOL'S BUDGET.
EACH VOUCHER WORTH 7300 FOR K-8,
AND 7500 FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.
>> ABOUT A $700,000 AMOUNT OF
MONEY IN NEWMAN TO HELP EDUCATE
THOSE STUDENTS.
THAT'S REAL MONEY IN MY LEXICON.
>> FOR TRINITY LUTHERAN, ADDS UP
TO $190,000 THIS YEAR.
>> IT'S A GOOD CHUNK, YES.
OUR BUDGET IS OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS, SO ABOUT 10%.
>> NEITHER TRINITY NOR NEWMAN
HAD TO HIRE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS,
SINCE SO MANY OF THE STUDENTS
WERE ALREADY IN HOUSE.
BUT HOW THEY HAVE USED THE MONEY
SHOWS HOW POLITICALLY UNSTABLE
THE CHOICE PROGRAM IS VIEWED.
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PLAN
THAT THIS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE
HERE, AND WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
>> NEITHER SCHOOL HAS GIVEN
THEIR TEACHERS A RAISE DUE TO
THE EXTRA INCOME.
>> WE WOULD NOT TIE TEACHER
SALARIES TO THAT PART OF
ENROLLMENT.
>> AT NEWMAN, A LIST OF UPGRADES
TO THE FACILITIES.
>> ONE IS OFFSETTING COSTS, NEW
ROOF ON THE HIGH SCHOOL HERE.
>> AT TRINITY, THE CHURCH
CONGREGATION GETS THE BREAK.
>> WHAT THE CHOICE PROGRAM HAS
DONE IS HELPED US PAY THOSE
REGULAR EXPENSES WE HAVE SO THE
CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE TO PUT IN
AS MUCH.
>> EVERYONE IS AWARE THE NEXT
ELECTION COULD SHIFT POWER IN
MADISON.
AND LEAD TO CHANGES IN CHOICE.
BUT TRINITY AND NEWMAN HOPE BY
THEN THE PROGRAM WILL BE SO
ESTABLISHED WON'T BE SO EASY TO
ROLL BACK.
>> THE LONGER THE PROGRAM IS
GOING AND AS LONG AS IT'S
SHOWING TO BE A POSITIVE THING,
THAT'S LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
>> THE SHIP HAS ALREADY SAILED
IN THE SENSE IT IS SO POPULAR
NOW THAT IT'S PROBABLY HERE TO
STAY.
>> THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
HAS NOT YET TAKEN UP THE PORTION
OF THE BUDGET THAT DEALS WITH
K-12 EDUCATION AND CHOICE.
ON OTHER ITEMS, LEGISLATURE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED BUDGET
RIDING COMMITTEE THIS WEEK DID
VOTE TO APPROVE GOVERNOR
WALKER'S PROPOSAL TO MAKE
WISCONSIN THE FIRST STATE IN THE
NATION TO REQUIRE SOME ADULTS TO
WORK AND TAKE DRUG TESTS TO
RECEIVE MEDICAID.
THE SAME WOULD HOLD FOR SOME
FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO ACTED ON U.W.
FUNDING.
W.P.T. IS PART OF THE U.W.
SYSTEM.
JOINT FINANCE REJECTED THE
TUITION CUT BUT VOTED TO FREEZE
TUITION AGAIN.
IN ALL, INCREASE U.W. FUNDING BY
$36 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS, MOST
OF IT TIED TO PERFORMANCE
MEASURES.
MAJORITY REPUBLICANS MAJOR
INVESTMENT, DEMOCRATS ON THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE CALL IT AN
EFFECTIVE CUT BY NOT FUNDING THE
TUITION FREEZE.
>> OUR FUTURE GROWTH IN NEW
BUSINESSES, IN NEW START-UPS
WHERE WE KNOW WE GET THE
MAJORITY OF THE NEW JOBS IS
DIRECTLY TIED TO THE INVESTMENT
THAT WE MAKE IN THE U.W. SYSTEM.
IT IS AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR.
WHAT IS THE PLACE THAT HAS THE
HIGHEST JOB GROWTH IN WISCONSIN
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S
IN DANE COUNTY.
WHY IS THAT?
WE HAVE A HIGHLY EDUCATED
POPULATION.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK
YOU OWE US A PLAN AS FAR AS WHAT
IS GOING TO GIVE, ARE PROPERTY
TAXES GOING TO GO UP, INCOME
TAXES GO UP, CUT OTHER THINGS
LIKE MEDICAID BECAUSE WE CANNOT
AFFORD MEDICAID ADDITIONS PLUS
THE $1.1 BILLION?
RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE BOTH SIDES
OF THE LEDGER AND THE END OF THE
DAY, IF WE ARE SITTING WITH SIX
YEARS CONSECUTIVELY NOW OF
FROZEN TUITION.
>> THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE'S
HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED A
DRAFT OF ITS BLUEPRINT FOR
PEACE.
THE NEWLY RELEASED PROGRAM,
VIOLENT CRIME, ANOTHER ON
ENHANCED POLICE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY SAY PREVENTION AND
ENFORCEMENT ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE.
BUT THE DISCUSSION HOW TO COMBAT
CRIME AND STOP GUN VIOLENCE
HIGHLIGHT HOW THE CITY IS
GRAPPLING WITH THE PROBLEM.
WHILE WELL MEANING WORK GOES ON,
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, WE
HEAR FROM THE MOTHER OF A RECENT
VICTIM.
SHE REACHED OUT TO US AFTER WE
GOT TO KNOW HER IN THE COURSE OF
OUR REPORTING WORK ON GUN
VIOLENCE IN MILWAUKEE.
>> IT'S NICE, A REALLY NICE
GARDEN OVER HERE.
>> WE FIRST MET NORA SHERIDAN
TWO SUMMERS AGO AS SHE AND HER
SISTER STROLLED THE MILWAUKEE
NEIGHBOR WHERE THEY EXPERIENCED
A VERY DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD.
>> JUST THINK, HOW LONG AGO WAS
THAT, 1968?
>> BE INTERVIEWED THE SISTERS AS
PART OF REPORTING ON ESCALATING
GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.
THEIR FAMILY WAS FEATURED IN A
1968 DOCUMENTARY REPRESENTING
POVERTY AND BROKEN FAMILIES
GOING BACK GENERATIONS IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> JUST NERVE WRACKING, YOU
AIN'T GOT NO PEACE IN THE HOME
NOW.
>> ONE QUESTION WAS COULD THE
MULTI-GENERATIONAL CONDITIONS BE
ONE REASON FOR CURRENT DAY
SPIKES IN VIOLENCE?
NORA SHERIDAN THOUGHT THE ANSWER
WAS YES.
>> THE BLACK FAMILY IS BEING
DESTROYED.
THE MAJORITY OF THE BLACK FAMILY
DOES NOT HAVE A FATHER.
>> SHE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE AS A WORRY FOR THE
LARGER COMMUNITY.
THIS SPRING, THE DEVASTATION
RIPPED HER OWN WORLD APART.
>> HE SAID THAT YOUR SON, HE
SAID YOU HAVE A SON RAINIER,
YES, I DO.
>> DETECTIVES CALLED NORA
SHERIDAN HOME FROM WORK TO BREAK
THE NEWS THAT HER 36-YEAR-OLD
SON RAINIER HAD BEEN SHOT AND
KILLED.
THEY THOUGHT IT HAPPENED OUTSIDE
HER HOUSE, AND THAT HE HAD
STUMBLED INSIDE TO CALL FOR
HELP.
THE NOODLES HE WAS COOKING FOR
LUNCH, SHE WAS TOLD, WERE STILL
COOKING ON THE STOVE.
>> HE SAID THAT WHEN HE ARRIVED
TO THE HOSPITAL HE DIED AT THE
HOSPITAL.
>> RAINIER'S MOTHER SAYS HE
LIVED AT HOME WITH HER AND WAS
IN A GOOD PLACE.
WORKING A GOOD-PAYING JOB AT A
CHEMICAL PLANT IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THEY WERE SO PLEASED WITH HIS
PERFORMANCE THAT HE WAS EMPLOYEE
OF THE MONTH FOR CONSECUTIVELY,
AND AT THE FUNERAL THEY SHUT
DOWN A DEPARTMENT JUST TO COME
TO THE FUNERAL.
>> WHAT HIS MOTHER WANTS TO KNOW
IS WHO SHOT HER SON AND WHY.
MILWAUKEE POLICE CAN ONLY SAY
THEY ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING A
MOTIVE AND SEARCHING FOR
SUSPECTS.
>> BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW THE
TRUTH.
I -- I WANT JUSTICE AND I WANT
JUSTICE FOR HIM, I WANT THE
PEOPLE OR PERSON WHO DID THAT TO
HIM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
KILLING HIM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DID, THEY TOOK,
THEY TOOK HIM FROM HIS CHILDREN.
THEY TOOK HIM FROM HIS SISTERS,
THEY TOOK HIM FROM HIS BROTHERS,
THEY TOOK HIM FROM ME, YOU KNOW,
AND RIGHT NOW I'M STARTING TO
GET ANGRY.
I JUST WANT JUSTICE FOR HIM.
>> SHERIDAN WONDERS, WAS IT A
CAR THEFT GONE WRONG, BURGLARS,
WHAT ELSE.
THE NOT KNOWING MAKES HIS LOSS
EVEN WORSE.
ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IN
MILWAUKEE ALREADY KEEP THEIR
DRAPERIES CLOSED DAY AND NIGHT
TRYING TO HIDE OUT FROM
VIOLENCE.
HERS INCLUDED.
THE EXTRA SECURITY OF HER HOME
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA CAPTURED
IMAGES ONLY AFTER THE FACT OF
RESPONDING POLICE.
>> YOU NEED TO STOP ALL THIS,
ALL THESE SHOOTINGS.
EVERY NIGHT I HEAR SOMEONE
SHOOTING.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I SHOULD
HIT THE FLOOR, CALL 911,
SOMETIMES I'M AFRAID IF I CALL
911 THAT THEY WILL TELL WHO, OR
THE POLICE WILL SHOW UP AT MY
DOOR AND FIND OUT WHO, WHO THE
PERSON WHO CALLED AND THEY MIGHT
RETALIATE AGAINST ME.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS
LIKE THAT.
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FEELS THAT WAY TOO.
SO, WE JUST -- SOMETHING NEEDS
TO BE DONE ABOUT ALL THESE
SHOOTINGS AROUND HERE, PERIOD.
>> STILL, SHERIDAN SAYS SHE IS
NOT AFRAID TO STAY IN HER HOUSE,
EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE SHOT HER SON
THERE.
THEIR HOME, SHE SAYS, MAKES HER
FEEL CLOSE TO HIM.
>> EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE,
EVERY HOUR I THINK ABOUT HIM.
EVERYTHING THAT I DO IN THIS
HOUSE I THINK ABOUT HIM.
>> SHE SAYS DESPITE THAT, SHE'S
ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE
OF SOMETHING AN OFFICER TOLD
HER.
>> WHEN I ASKED HIM WHERE DID
THEY FIND HIM, HE SAID HE WAS IN
MY BEDROOM AND I FEEL COMFORT
THERE FOR SOME REASON.
I FEEL COMFORT THERE.
>> THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS SHOW
SO FAR THIS YEAR 35 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN MURDERED IN MILWAUKEE, MOST
OF THEM SHOT TO DEATH.
IN 2016, THERE WERE 141
HOMICIDES, AGAIN, MOSTLY THE
RESULT OF GUNFIRE.
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER'S BUDGET
PROPOSES ELIMINATING THE STATE
PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX.
THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD MEAN
ABOUT $27 SAVINGS, BUT IN ALL,
THE TAX RAISES ABOUT
$180 MILLION OVER THE BIENNIUM.
AND GOES SPECIFICALLY TO FUND
STATE FORESTRY PROGRAMS LIKE
TREE MANAGEMENT, INVASIVE
SPECIES RESEARCH, EVEN FORWARD
FIGHTING FOREST FIRES.
AND PART PAYS DEBT ON WISCONSIN
STEWARDSHIP LAND PROGRAM.
UNDER THE THAT WOULD
COME FROM THE STATE'S GENERAL
FUND IN STATE.
IN CAPITOL INSIGHT, SUPPORT AND
OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGE.
WE START WITH THE WISCONSIN
REALTORS ASSOCIATION, AND TOM
LARSON WHO FAVORS THE TAX CUT.
AVERAGE SAVINGS, $27 FOR THE
AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, IT SEEMS
SMALL.
WHY DO YOU SUPPORT THE
ELIMINATION?
>> THE IMPORTANT PART, IT TAKES
SOMETHING OFF THE PROPERTY TAX.
WISCONSIN HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST
PROPERTY TAXES IN THE COUNTRY,
RANKED FIFTH IN THE UNITED
STATES, AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE
HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE
PROPERTY TAX LOWERS THE BURDEN
FOR BOTH PROPERTY OWNERS AND
BUSINESSES.
>> AND SPEAKING OF BUSINESSES OR
KIND OF LARGER COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES, THAT'S WHO WOULD --
THIS WOULD BENEFIT MUCH MORE,
THOUGH, RIGHT, THAN THE AVERAGE
HOMEOWNER WITH THAT $27.
IS THAT THE INTENT?
>> REMEMBER, THE PROPERTY TAX
HAS TO BE UNIFORM, SO WE APPLY
THE SAME MILL RATE ACROSS THE
BOARD AND DEPENDING ON THE
VALUE, THE IMPACT WOULD BE
GREATER, HIGHER THE VALUE,
HIGHER THE IMPACT.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO SAY THAT'S THE INTENT?
HELPING, YOU KNOW, THE LARGE
PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> WELL, I THINK THE INTENT IS
TO HELP THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.
ANY TIME YOU DO PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF, IT HELPS A BROAD SWATH
OF PEOPLE.
IT HELPS HOMEOWNERS, IT HELPS
BUSINESS, HELPS THE MIDDLE
CLASS, IT HELPS THE LOWER CLASS,
UPPER CLASS.
THE BENEFIT IS WIDESPREAD.
>> WHAT ABOUT CONCERNS OVER THE
LOSS OF THAT REVENUE TO MAINTAIN
THE FOREST, EVEN THINGS LIKE
FIGHTING FOREST FIRES?
>> WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE
PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN WHOLE
THROUGH GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUE,
LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE PROGRAM.
SO, THE FORESTRY PROGRAM IS A
PRIORITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE,
PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR, THEY
ARE JUST SHIFTING REVENUE
SOURCES.
SO, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT
CHANGING.
>> PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, THOUGH,
THAT SHIFTING REVENUE SOURCES
AND MAKING A G.P.R. FUNDED PUTS
IT AT RISK BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY OTHER COMPETING THINGS
NEEDING THAT GENERAL TAX REVENUE
MONEY.
>> AS LONG AS -- AS LONG AS IT
REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, IT
WILL CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED MAYBE
TO THE SAME LEVELS THAT IT
CURRENTLY IS.
>> AND MAYBE THE SAME LEVELS,
BUT IF IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, AS
A REALTOR AND REPRESENTING THE
REALTOR'S ASSOCIATION, DON'T
PROPERTY VALUES KIND OF DEPEND
ON THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SPACES
AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS?
>> IT DOES.
IT DEPENDS ON QUALITY OF LIFE,
GOOD SCHOOLS, LOW CRIME RATE,
CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, AND THE
FORESTRY PROGRAM IS A KEY
COMPONENT OF WISCONSIN'S QUALITY
OF LIFE.
>> AND YOU DON'T THINK IT'S IN
JEOPARDY?
>> NOT THAT I'VE -- NOT THAT
I'VE HEARD.
AGAIN, BROAD SUPPORT FOR THE
STATE'S FORESTRY PROGRAM, AND
SHIFTING TO GENERAL PURPOSE
REVENUE DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS
NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
>> I KNOW YOU ESPECIALLY LIKE
THIS, IT CHIPS AWAY AT THE
PROPERTY TAX WHICH YOU SAY IS
OVERBURDENSOME IN WISCONSIN,
WHAT ARE OTHER WAYS WE COULD SEE
TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX
BURDEN?
>> WISCONSIN IS VERY HIGH,
RANKED, OUR NATIONAL RANKING IS
VERY HIGH IN PROPERTY TAXES, BUT
LOW IN OTHER REVENUE SOURCES
LIKE THE SALES TAX.
RANKED 37th IN THE COUNTRY, IF
THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR
WANTED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL
REVENUES AND FURTHER LOWER THE
PROPERTY TAX BURDEN, THEY COULD
INCREASE THE SALES TAX TO DO
THAT.
>> AS A REALTOR OR REPRESENTING
THE ASSOCIATION, HOW DOES THE
PROPERTY TAX AFFECT PROPERTY
SALES, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON
AFFORDABILITY.
THERE WAS JUST SOME POLLING DONE
THAT LOOKED AT RENTERS, AND
ASKED THEM WHAT WAS THE PRIMARY
REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T BECOME
HOMEOWNERS?
AND IT'S AFFORDABILITY.
AND PROPERTY TAXES PAY, PLAY A
BIG PART IN THAT.
IT'S OFTEN THE MORTGAGE, BUT
ALSO THE PROPERTY TAXES.
AND THE LOWER WE MAKE THAT
PROPERTY TAX BURDEN, THE MORE
ATTAINABLE HOME OWNERSHIP WILL
BE FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
TOM LARSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW, MORE ON THE FOREST MILL
TAX.
UP NEXT, OPPOSITION TO CUTTING
THE STATE PROPERTY TAX AND
REVENUE FOR FORESTS.
FRED CLARK IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF THE
TAX?
>> FORESTRY MILL TAX CREATED IN
THE STATE CONSTITUTION IN 1924
AT A TIME WHEN WISCONSIN FORESTS
WERE JUST BEGINNING TO RECOVER
FROM ABOUT A 50-YEAR PERIOD OF
CLEAR-CUTTING AND
OVERHARVESTING.
AND IT WAS REALLY THE WISDOM OF
LEGISLATORS AT THAT TIME TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEEDED TO
INVEST IN OUR FOREST RESOURCES
SO THEY COULD RECOVER AND WE
COULD PROTECT THE SOIL, PROTECT
THE WATER, AND BEGIN TO REBUILD
OUR FORESTRY ECONOMY.
>> AND OBVIOUSLY YOU BELIEVE
THAT TAX HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
DOING THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.
AND IN FACT, WISCONSIN HAS
BECOME A LEADER AMONG STATES IN
THE COUNTRY IN INVESTING, IN OUR
17 MILLION ACRES OF FORESTS, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC FOREST
LANDS IN A WAY THAT HAS BEEN A
NATIONAL SUCCESS STORY.
>> WHY NOT JUST FUND THAT WORK
MANAGING FORESTS WITH GENERAL
PURPOSE REVENUE?
>> WELL, THE GENERAL FUND IN THE
STATE IS NOT A BOTTOMLESS WELL,
AND YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
PARKS PROGRAMS, AND OTHER
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE
THAT ARE FUNDED FROM GENERAL
REVENUES SEE THEIR BUDGETS SWING
UP AND DOWN FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
THE DEDICATED FUNDING PROVIDED
IN THE CONSTITUTION BY THE
FORESTRY MILL TAX ASSURES THAT
WE HAVE FIRE CONTROL AND FOREST
HEALTH AND FOREST PRODUCTS
EXPERTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
SUSTAIN THAT RESOURCE YEAR IN
AND YEAR OUT.
EVERY WISCONSIN CITIZENS
BENEFITS FROM THAT INVESTMENT.
>> YOUR CONCERN IS THAT IF IT
SWITCHES TO G.P.R., THAT
SOMETHING ELSE WILL BE MORE OF A
PRIORITY THAN THIS?
>> I MEAN, IT WILL HAVE TO BE.
AND UNDERSTANDABLY.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS A DIFFICULT
JOB TO DO EVERY TWO YEARS TO
BALANCE OUR YOU ARE
ALREADY HEARING THE DEBATE OF
HOW WE WILL PAY FOR ROADS, HOW
WE WILL PAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
THAT BADLY NEED THOSE RESOURCES.
BY THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, ADDS
$180 MILLION ADDITIONAL DRAW TO
THE GENERAL FUND THAT
LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR.
>> NOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW
THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE AVERAGE
HOMEOWNER BY A SAVINGS OF ABOUT
$27 A YEAR.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT THE VERY MOST
FROM THE ELIMINATION OF THAT TAX
OFF THE STATE PROPERTY TAX?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE
PAYING THE LARGEST PROPERTY TAX
BILLS, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY OWNERS, AND INCLUDING
SOME OF THE HIGHEST VALUE
PROPERTY OWNERS WILL BENEFIT
FROM SEEING THE MILL TAX GO AWAY
ON THEIR TAX BILL.
WHO BENEFITS THE MOST FROM
HAVING IT ARE RURAL HOMEOWNERS
AND RURAL RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN
THE FORESTED PARTS OF THE STATE
WHO BENEFIT FROM FIRE CONTROL,
WHO BENEFIT FROM FOREST
PROTECTION AND THE VERY ROBUST
FOREST-BASED ECONOMY THAT WE
HAVE.
>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND THE TAX
ALSO HELPS PAY PART OF THE DEBT
ON THE STATE STEWARDSHIP FUND.
>> CORRECT.
>> SO THAT WOULD GO AWAY.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> THE KNOWLES NELSON
STEWARDSHIP FUND HAS RECEIVED
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION
LANDS.
FORESTRY MILL TAX ACTUALLY HELPS
PAY FOR ABOUT $13 MILLION OF THE
COST OF BONDING FOR THAT
PROGRAM, SO THIS IS PAYING THE
BILL FOR THE LAND CONSERVATION
THAT WE AGREE IS IMPORTANT IN
THIS STATE.
IF THAT GOES AWAY, ADDITIONAL
DRAW ON THE GENERAL FUND, MAYBE
MORE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD WITH ADDITIONAL BONDING,
WHICH IS NOT GOING TO HELP US IN
THE LONG RUN.
>> IS IT YOUR EXPECTATION THIS
WILL, AS THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE
TO SEE?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT UNANIMOUS BY
ANY MEANS.
THERE ARE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
I KNOW ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
PROPOSAL, THE CHAIR OF THE
ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY
COMMITTEE HAS BEEN STRONGLY
VOCAL IN OPPOSING THE PROVISION
RIGHT NOW.
SO HAS THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON
FORESTRY, THE 18 PEOPLE HE HAS
APPOINTED TO ADVISE HIM ON
FORESTRY ISSUES IS FORMALLY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE POSITION.
THEY BELIEVE A MORE APPROPRIATE
MOVE WOULD BE AN AUDIT TO THE
FORESTRY ACCOUNT, TO SEE WHERE
THE FUNDS ARE USED AND IF
APPROPRIATE MAKE CHANGES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
FRED CLARK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> WE MOVE FROM FORESTRY AND
TAXES DEEPER INTO THE FOREST
ITSELF AND THE ANNUAL HEALTH
THREAT POSED BY THIS INSECT.
THE DEER TICK.
LYME'S DISEASE IT CAN CARRY, ON
THE EVE OF A HOLIDAY WEEKEND
WHERE MANY OF US TAKE TO THE
WOODS, WE PAID A VISIT TO
ENTOMOLOGIST AND DEER TICK
SPECIALIST P.J. LIESCH.
>> THE PARTICULAR FORECAST CAN
BE HARD TO PREDICT.
>> YEAR TO YEAR PREDICTIONS CAN
BE DIFFICULT, DUE TO CHANGES IN
WEATHER AND MOISTURE.
U.W. EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST P.J.
LIESCH KNOWS IN WISCONSIN IT'S
ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT
EXPOSURE.
>> EVEN IF THE TICKS ARE KNOTS
NECESSARILY BOOMING IN
WISCONSIN, WE ARE ONE OF THE HOT
SPOTS OF PARTICULAR ACTIVITY IN
THE U.S., SO FOLKS DO NEED TO BE
ON THE LOOKOUT AND TAKE
PRECAUTION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IN AN AREA
WITH GOOD TICK HABITAT, SUCH AS
DENSE WOODED AREAS WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU AVOID THOSE
AREAS, THAT MAY BE ONE IMPORTANT
WAY TO HELP AVOID BUMPING INTO
TICKS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO DO,
WEAR LONG SLEEVE CLOTHING, IF
YOU HAVE LONG SLEEVE PANTS ON,
AND ESPECIALLY LIGHTER COLORED
CLOTHING THAT MAY BE EASIER TO
SPOT THE DARK COLORED TICKS ON,
ONE PRECAUTION WE CAN DO, AND A
NUMBER OF E.P.A. APPROVED
REPELLENTS SUCH AS DEET, WHEN
APPLIED PROPERLY AND CORRECTLY
CAN PREVENT TICKS FROM GETTING
ON TO YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO THE
LAKES AND WOODS, HERE IS ANOTHER
LOOK.
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT OUR NEWS
PARTNER AT WISCONTEXT.ORG.
NOW FOR A LOOK AT OTHER
WISCONSIN BUDGET NEWS.
A NEW RESEARCH CENTER NAMED
AFTER FORMER GOVERNOR TOMMY
THOMPSON MAY BE COMING TO U.W.
MADISON.
PROPOSED CENTER WOULD FUND
ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PUBLIC
POLICY AND GOVERNMENT, AND
CONNECT FACULTY MEMBERS WITH
LAWMAKERS IN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC POLICY.
CENTER FUNDED WITH $3 MILLION IN
THE BUDGET AS WELL AS PRIVATE
FUND ING.
IT ALREADY HAS THE SUPPORT OF
THE GOVERNOR, U.W. PRESIDENT
REBECCA BLANK, AND OTHERS.
NOT EVERYONE IS A FAN.
GORDON HINTZ OF OSHKOSH IS
WORRIED IT WOULD PRODUCE
CONSERVATIVE LEANING RESEARCH,
DESPITE CLAIMS IT WOULD BE
NON-PARTISAN.
NEXT WEEK, "HERE AND NOW" WILL
BE PREEMPTED FOR THE FUNDRAISING
AUCTION.
WE WILL RETURN ON FRIDAY NIGHT
JUNE 9TH.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, HAVE A
GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.