More Than 250 Local Officials Sign Anti-TABOR Letter

More than 250 local elected officials (as of March 23, 2006) have signed a letter asking the Legislature to oppose the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA).

TPA is the latest variation of the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, and would write extremely rigid government revenue limits into the state Constitution.

The letter says the TPA would force governments to roll back essential government services and would chip away at Wisconsin's quality of life. The letter says:

Dear State Legislator:

We are writing to urge you to oppose the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA). As local officials, we share your concern with high property taxes. “Taxpayer Protection” sounds simple on the surface, but this amendment creates complex problems for local government, and fails to address the real problems we all face.

Citizens depend upon local government, and rolling back our basic services is an extreme response. Police protection, education, emergency responders, firefighters, snow removal, road maintenance, child protection services, meals-on-wheels, park maintenance, library access, public health, and sanitation services would all face serious cutbacks. This isn’t the answer.

TPA also chips away at our greatest asset for creating local economic development – our strong communities and excellent quality of life. Studies show that clean air and water, good schools, well-trained workers, public health and safe streets are more important to prospective employers than a complex calculation of relative tax rates.

These local cuts come at a time when our front line workers, including those in law enforcement and public health, are being asked to take on more responsibilities to face previously unimagined threats. Whether it is bioterrorism, a natural disaster or a virulent new strain of infectious disease, now is not the time to undermine public health, safety and security. TPA will make it impossible to quickly respond to these and other unforeseen emergencies.

This amendment ignores significant differences between our local jurisdictions, and will hit some communities much harder than others. This is a diverse state with varied preferences for public services, and TPA applies unrealistic limits on all communities regardless of these differences. We ask you to recognize that local officials are in the best possible position to decide services for our own communities.

Elected and appointed officials from all areas of government, and from all regions across the state, are often on opposite sides of important funding issues. But we stand together firmly united against the TPA, and in opposition to the further erosion of local control.

Local officials should answer to local voters and values, not mandates. We respectfully ask you to reject the Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

Sincerely,

Douglas L. Bade, Mayor of West Bend
Doug Oitzinger, Mayor of Marinette
Richard Brunner, Common Council President for Brookfield
Carol Lombardi, Mayor of Waukesha
Steve Barg, City Administrator of Ripon
Juan Perez, Mayor of Sheboygan
Kristine Deiss, City Alderperson from West Bend
Gary Becker, Mayor of Racine
Theresa Estness, Mayor of Wauwatosa
Wayne Toltzman, Mayor of New London
Larry R. Fletcher, Mayor of Shell Lake
Blyann Johnson, City Clerk for Osseo
William Moore, City Council Alder from New Berlin
Gerald Bach, Mayor of Wisconsin Rapids
Jerry Smart, Mayor of Montello
Robert A. Ellisor, City Administrator of Adams
James A. Garvens, Alderman from Brookfield
Barb Pederson, City Clerk from Sparta
Mary Raith, City Clerk of Rhinelander
Lori M. Gosz, Treasurer for City of Brillion
Dave Cieslewicz, Mayor of Madison
James Brzezinski, City Council Trustee from Germantown
Terry Thiessen, New Holstein Economic Development Corporation
Craig Maher, City Council Alderman from Wauwatosa
Helen Schmidlkofer, City Clerk-Treasurer of Chilton
Paul Fisk, Mayor of Lodi
Cindy Fayerweather, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer for Pepin
Tanya Stewart, City Treasurer for Jefferson
Michael D. Meyers, Mayor of Marshfield
David W. Batten, City Treasurer for Wisconsin Rapids
Stephen M. Leo, Alderman from Middleton
Tim Wellnitz, City Council Vice President of Janesville
James Allen, City Alder from Whitewater
Michael Brehm, City Administrator of Marshfield
Vern Borth, City Clerk for Wisconsin Rapids
Kyle J. Clark, City Clerk-Treasurer of Waupun
James Allen, City Council Alder from Whitewater
Carmen Newman, City Clerk-Treasurer of Chetek
Thomas Vue, City Council Alder from Eau Claire
Lauren Cnare, City Council Alder from Madison
Chad Murry, City Council Member of Beloit
Harold E. Davis, City Council Alder from Eau Claire
Austin King, City Council Alder from Madison
Ron Krueger, City Council Alder from Watertown
Mike Verveer, City Council Alder from Madison
Patrick Schneider, City Council Alder from Stoughton
Tim Gruber, City Council Alder from Madison
Donald Hull, City Council Alder from Reedsburg
Andy Lewis, City Council Alder from Middleton
Brenda Konkel, City Council Alder from Madison
Mark Horn, City Council Alder from Middleton
Karlene Utke, City Clerk-Treasurer from Montello
Paul Lawrence, City Council Alderman from Stoughton
Robert Conhaim, City Council Alder from Middleton
Ken Golden, City Council Alder from Madison
Kurt Sonnentag, City Council Alder from Middleton
Paul Van Rooy, City Council Alder from Madison
Robert Conhaim, City Council Alder from Middleton
Noel Radomski, City Council Alder from Madison
Todd Kittelson, Common Council President of Osseo
Russell M. Nero, City Clerk for Wautoma
Dennis Dedering, City Administrator for Kiel
Rose Stellmacher, County Clerk for Oconto County
Michael J Murphy, Board Chair of Chippewa County
Jerry Pagel, Sheriff for Calumet County
Charlie Most, Board Chairman of Door County
Arthur Carter, Board Vice Chairman for Green County
Kathlyn Callen, Supervisor from Ozaukee County
Diane Poach, Register of Deeds for Washburn County
Char Peterson, Clerk for Manitowoc County
Rose Ottum, Register of Deeds for Trempealeau County
Scott Fibert, Clerk for Bayfield County
Diane Lange, Board Supervisor from Racine County
Esther S. Wentz, Board Supervisor from St. Croix County
Jane Licht, Register of Deeds for Dane County
John M. Hardin, Board Supervisor from Barron County
Sharon Hampson, Board Supervisor from La Crosse County
Mary Jean Nicholson, Supervisor from Fond du Lac County
Richard H.Johnson, Board Supervisor from Dunn County
Roger Quindel, Board Supervisor from Milwaukee County
David Gawenda, Treasurer of Dane County
Hilde Henkel, Board Supervisor from Wood County
Evelyn Maloney, Board Supervisor from Chippewa County
James G. White, Board Supervisor from Milwaukee County
Brett Hulsey, Board Supervisor in Dane County
Robert Fyrst, Board Supervisor from Dane County
Michael Serpe, Administrative Assistant for Kenosha County Executive
Delores Ruedinger, Supervisor from Fond du Lac
Jude Genereaux, County Administrator of Door County
Barbara Vedder, Board Supervisor from Dane County
Donald F. Meyer, Board Supervisor from La Crosse
Kyle Richmond, Board Supervisor from Dane County
Martin F. Farrell, Supervisor in Fond du Lac County
John Hendrick, Board Supervisor from Dane County
Don Eggert, Board Supervisor from Dane County
Brenda A. Schneider, Board Supervisor from Fond du Lac County
Dave de Felice, County Board supervisor from Dane County
John F. Weishan, Board Supervisor from Milwaukee County
Duane Gau, County Board Supervisor from Dane County
Jim Leschensky, Board Supervisor in Chippewa County
David Worzala, County Supervisor, Dane County
Mike Norton, County Board Supervisor from Winnebago County
Mark Opitz, Board Supervisor in Dane County
Stan Heiderscheidt, Board Supervisor from Polk County
Bill Loesch, Village President, Village of East Troy
Cindy Huhn, President for Village of Cleveland
Marsha Martens, Town Clerk from Clark County
Randy Leiker, Town Chairman of Greenville
Tony Hallman, Town Administrator from Three Lakes
Charles Kuen, President for Village of Kimberly
Royden Bloom, Supervisor from Town of Drummond
Anthony L Broadbent, Village President of Muscoda
John A. Rooyakkers, President for Village of Little Chute
Pamela Donohoe, Clerk & Economic Development Director for Village of Somerset
Barbara Seegers, Clerk-Treasurer from the Town of Freedom
Marilyn Sederlund, Village Clerk-Treasurer of Frederic
Randy Timms, Village of East Troy Trustee
Sharon Schwab, Town of Grant Chair
Jim Leschensky, Finance Committee Chair from Cornell
Alan Downs, President for Village of Blue Mounds
Doris Harmsen, Town Clerk from Alto
Sandy Morris, Town Clerk from Knowlton
Thomas Wilson, Administrator for Town of Westport
Elaine Fronk, Town Clerk from Union
Chuck Hill, Supervisor from Town of Hiles
Dawn Gorsuch, Trustee from Village of Cambria
Jeff Miller, President for Village of DeForest
William E. Bell, Village Administrator from Turtle Lake
Lois Frank, Treasurer for Village of Cambria
Jean Setterholm, Town of Egg Harbor Planning Commission
Brenda A. Schneider, Town Clerk from Taycheedah
Jo Ann Lesser, Village Treasurer of Francis Creek
John Van Dinter, Town of Westport Board Chair
Donn Trieloff, President of the Village of Cambridge
Sue Peck, Treasurer for Village of Marshall
Jim Morris, Chairman for Town of Knowlton
Rick J. Hermus, Village Administrator from Kimberly
John R. Hermes, Village Trustee from Greendale
Michael Wolf, Town Clerk from Blooming Grove
Lori Kratky, Deputy Clerk Village of Cambria
Lavere Schultz, Clerk for Town of Dewey
Paul Swart, Town Chairman from Koshkonong
Rhonda J. Klatt, Clerk/Treasurer for Village of Adell
Bye Barsness, Supervisor from the Town of St. Joseph
John Zimmel Village President of Mount Horeb
Dawn Dobbs, Deputy Clerk in Village of Boaz
Randy Harris, Town Supervisor from Koshkonong
Del Jerome, Supervisor from Town of Drummond
Jean Welsh, Treasurer Village of Boaz
Kevin Viney, Chairman for the Town of Burke
Elizabeth J. Seefeldt, Town Clerk of Kelly
Joan Dykstra, Clerk-Treasurer for Village of Johnson Creek
John Stafford, President Village of Boaz
Patrick Miles, Village Board Trustee from McFarland
Sherri Endres, Clerk-Treasurer from Town of Springfield
Marian Strutt, Clerk for Town of Ridgeway
Andy Schmitt, President for Village of Adell
Brigetta Nelson, Town Clerk from Koshkonong
Tammy Waltz, Town Clerk of Rock Elm
Lois Havenor, Village of Eleva Clerk
Rose Bowen, President, Oconto Unified School District
Nancy Bornstein, President, Shorewood School Board
Dan Lerum, President, Pepin School Board
Roberta Rasmus, President, Chippewa Falls Area Board of Education
Greg Maass, Superintendent, Fond du Lac School District
Emily Anderson, President, Swallow School Board (Hartland)
Kim Mess, Vice President, Phillips School Board
Eric J. Olson, President, Kenosha District School Board
Dan Brereton, President, Florence School Board
Terry E. Thiessen, Alder and School Board Member from New Holstein
Renee Clement, Peshtigo School Board
Eric Turner, President, Unity School Board
Sid Sherstad, President of the Siren School Board
Randy Gracyalny, President, Clinton Community School Board
Daniel Romenesko, President, Sharon Community School Board
Pat Qualma, Algoma School Board
Ruth Robarts, Madison School Board
Jeri Bitney, Vice President, Shell Lake School Board
Dane Trodahl, Vice President, Wonewoc-Center School Board
Diane Messer, District Administrator, Dodgeville School District
Kristen Dexter, Clerk, Altoona Board of Education
Jerry Tischer, Superintendent, Frederic School District
Bob Roska, Member, Glendale-River Hills School Board
Sue Huhn, Member, Franklin Board of Education
Sally Pla, President, Lake Country School Board (Hartland)
Jennifer Morales, Milwaukee School Board
Harley Lund, Clerk, Unity School Board
Roxanne Shuga, President, Washburn School Board
Wilson Leong, School District of Milton
Francis E. Everson, Sturgeon Bay School Board
Jane Edson, Eleva-Strum School Board
Debbie Ince-Peterson, Vice President, Unity School Board
Lynn Rotolo-Johnson, Hartland School Board
Priscilla Swoboda, Algoma School Board
Andrah L. Grothey, Vice President, Swallow School Board
Oscar E. Beilke, New Holstein School Board
Lois Havenor, President, Eleva-Strum School Board
Garry M. Roberts, Treasurer, Denmark Board of Education
Janice Johnson, Clerk, Cuba City School Board
Curtis Brieske, Treasurer, Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School Board
Carol Kloepping, Brodhead School Board
Tom Bilski, Clerk, Eleva-Strum School
Tim Sivertson, Elk Mound School Board
Kay Lynn Taylor, Member, River Valley School Board
Dr. Wayne Johnson, Superintendent, Nekoosa Public Schools
Greg Sather, Eleva-Strum School Board
Tony Klaubauf, District Administrator, Denmark School District
Michael O'Brien, Eau Claire Area School Board
Joyce Russel, Eleva-Strum School Board
Sheryl Holmgren, Unity School Board
Dr. Susan McFarlane, District Administrator, North Fond du Lac School District
Don Mrdjenovich, Executive Director, WI Assn of School Business Officials
Michael O'Rourke, Vice-President, Fond du Lac School Board
Kenneth R. Rogers, Eleva-Strum District Administrator
Bob Rykal, Administrator, CESA # 11
Mari K. Frederic, Wautoma Area Board of Education
Bob Panzer, Board Member, Oakfield School District
Mike R. Bondarenko, Vice President, Baldwin-Woodville Area Board
Robert Smith, Vice President, Eleva-Strum School Board
Neil Duresky, Past President, WASB and former La Crosse School Board Member
Steve Glaim, Unity School Board
Mary Anne Stewart, Baraboo School Board
Jeff Kasuboski, Wautoma Area School District
David Moore, Treasurer, Unity School Board
John Willoughby, Evansville School Board
Nancy Allen, Vice President, Monona Grove School Board
James Beistle, Unity School Board
Joe Goss, Sun Prairie School Board
Carol J. Craig, Eau Claire School Board
Mary Klun, Superior School Board
Ann Schmitz, Algoma School Board
Viva Fleming, Thorp School Board

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Posted March 23, 2006