What do you value most in your community? The parks? The schools? The downtown farmers’ market? Most of us care deeply about the place we live and that is a good reason to get involved when our environment is threatened. Over the past decade, state funding for cities, towns, counties and school districts has not kept pace with the cost to continue basic operations.
Many communities are faced with serious budget shortfalls and are forced to cut back on programs and services in a way that erodes the quality of life. Parks are not as well maintained. Waterways are not as clean. The classes get too large in elementary schools. The tuition gets too high for college. The fire trucks are not in good repair. The roads are riddled with potholes. The garbage is not picked up as often. All this and yet property taxes are going up!
IWF is working with leaders from local government, unions, business, education and the community in several Wisconsin regions to involve citizens in the fight for more state aid and ensure accountable decision making.