April 7, 2017

The Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) will hold public hearings on the Governor’s 2017-19 Biennial Budget – Assembly Bill 64/Senate Bill 30 – which contain the provisions to remove the Forestry Mill Tax.  WWOA and other conservation organizations strongly oppose the removal of the Forestry Mill Tax funding in the state budget because it places Wisconsin’s nationally recognized forests and their resulting benefits at great risk.  We also know this will be a tight budgeting year.  If the legislature approves the Forestry Mill Tax provisions as written in the budget, the forestry account will be added to General Purpose Revenue (GPR) expenditures at a cost of $181 million.

Public Hearing Dates and Locations

Monday, April 3  10 am – 5 pm  UW – Platteville, Ullsvick Hall, 30 South Hickory St, Platteville

Wednesday, April 5  10 am – 5 pm  State Fair Pk – Exposition Ctr, 8200 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis

Friday, April 7  10 am – 5 pm  Berlin HS Auditorium, 222 Memorial Dr, Berlin

Tuesday, April 18  10 am – 6 pm  Spooner HS Auditorium, 801 Co Hwy A, Spooner

Wednesday, April 19  10 am – 5 pm  Ellsworth HS Gymnasium, 323 W Hillcrest St, Ellsworth

Friday, April 21  10 am – 5 pm  Marinette HS Auditorium, 2135 Pierce Ave, Marinette

2017 Joint Committee on Finance members:

To address JCF at these public hearings plan to arrive early and register immediately.  The hearings are usually crowded.  Bring a short written summary of your comments for your reference – you will have 2-3 minutes maximum to state your position and why it is important.  If you wish, you can bring 16 copies of your testimony or talking points to be distributed to JCF members.  Make sure to include your name and address on these.