Wisconsin is a good place to live and work. We want to keep it that way for our children and grandchildren. This quality of life relies on a network of effective public structures--schools, roads, bridges, the legal system, fire protection, health, sanitation, parks, culture, social services and public safety. These public structures are threatened by budget cuts and policies designed to reduce the scope of state and local government. IWF works with organizations and individuals statewide to inform and mobilize citizens in defense of the public sector services and infrastructure vital for family well-being and business success.
IWF organizing has three goals:
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Build popular awareness of and appreciation for the innumerable public structures that people depend on but often take for granted.
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Increase community awareness of the direct link between tax policy and the quality of public structures.
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Involve groups in local and state coalitions to press for adequate financial support of public structures as well as accountability for optimum performance by these structures.
Citizen Alliance for Strong Communities --
Greater Eau Claire Reaches Out to Community
The Citizen Alliance for Strong Communities (CASC) held an important community meeting on Tuesday, August 4 to let people in the area know about the serious budget cuts coming this year due to substantial cuts in state aid. Speaking as a group -- they outlined how state cuts in local aid will impact everything from class size to snow plowing. CASC was started in 2008 as a collaboration among local government entities (including the cities of Eau Claire and Altoona, the Altoona and Eau Claire school districts, Eau Claire County and Chippewa Valley Technical College), labor unions, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin. There was a packed house as over 70 people jammed a room at the technical college. After the CASC speakers outlined the coming cuts, people met in small groups to discuss their reactions, their concerns and how to get this information out to the broader community.
Click here to see a PowerPoint presentation on State Budget Ripple Effects - Difficult times for Greater Eau Claire.
To download the PDF version of the slide show click here.
Chippewa Valley leaders sound budget warning
Chippewa Valley leaders are sounding an alarm about the deepening impact of state budget cuts on local services and trying to begin a dialogue about preserving the community's quality of life.
Read more about the budget alert..
Local Alliance Hosts Legislative Forum on The State Budget
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Over 45 residents of St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee and Oak Creek met with State Senator Jeff Plale and State Representatives Mark Honadel and Christine Sinicki.
There was a short presentation about the impact of state revenue decisions on local communities and schools and the magnitude of the state budget deficit and proposed cuts and revenue increases.
This was the first legislative forum sponsored by the South Shore Citizens for a Prosperous Future which is composed of a politically diverse group of business, labor and religious leaders, local elected officials and retirees.
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Both residents and legislative leaders weighed in about ways to preserve strong public structures and prevent increases in local property taxes and fees. Ten revenue alternatives were presented and there were frank answers to the following questions:
• What, if any, revenue options
on the handout do you like more than cuts affecting
the community?
• What, if any, revenue options on the handout do you like less than cuts affecting the community?