WISCONSIN COUNTIES A S S O C I AT I O N Protecting the interests of county government since 1935.
2018 Published by the Wisconsin Counties Association 22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900 Madison, WI 53703 Phone: 608.663.7188 Fax: 608.663.7189 www.wicounties.org
WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is a membership organization dedicated to protecting the interests of county government. Its primary function is to represent county officials at the state and federal level through its lobbying effort. In addition, WCA is an educational, training, and general legal information resource. WCA provides educational opportunities through its annual conference in the fall, legislative exchange each February, and numerous educational seminars and webinars held throughout the year. WCA offers training sessions on roles and responsibilities, running effective meetings, budgeting, ethics, and numerous other topics. Further, WCA produces electronic newsletters, a monthly magazine, and maintains a website as a means to disseminate information to its membership. WCA provides numerous other services to counties, including access to liability and property insurance and employee benefit programs. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, the association provides counties access to products and services that assist counties in providing services more efficiently and cost effectively. Simply put, WCA is a multi-faceted organization that provides county officials with the tools they need to best serve their constituents. HISTORY WCA was created in 1935 when the Wisconsin State Legislature authorized county boards to participate in an association of county boards. Wis. Stats. 59.52 (22) authorizes counties to join an association committed to the protection of county interests and the furtherance of better county government. WCA represents interests that are common among Wisconsin s 72 counties. In 1982, the organization changed its name from the Wisconsin County Boards Association to the Wisconsin Counties Association to reflect the increasing role of county executives in county government. Recognizing that the county executive is the chief elected official in some counties (currently 11), the membership voted to recognize them as full members in the association. Further, under the constitution adopted in 1982, both county supervisors and executives are eligible to serve on the board of directors and as officers of the association.
GOVERNANCE Board of Directors Following the spring election in which county supervisors are elected every two years, a meeting is held in each WCA district to elect members of the board of directors. There are seven districts in the state that elect 14 district directors. Each county in the district is allocated one vote to be cast by the county s official representative. The number of directors apportioned to each district is based upon a composite of population and dues paid to the association, with each district entitled to at least one director. Four districts are allocated more than one director through the apportionment process two directors in the North Central District, two in the East Central, three in the Southern and four in the Southeast District. The apportionment of directors is calculated after each decennial census. Any district allocated a single director following apportionment is provided an additional director, such that each district shall have a minimum of two directors on the board. Each county with a population over 300,000 (Milwaukee, Dane, and Waukesha) has one director apportioned to it from its district s number of directors. Counties over 600,000 in population have one additional director. The additional director is in addition to the directors apportioned to the districts. Seven board seats are appointed by the chair of the board five county constitutional officers and two county supervisors or executives whose purpose is to provide diversity of representation on the board of directors. The final two board seats are the Wisconsin representative on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors, elected by a plurality vote at the district meetings, and one county executive selected by the county executives. All board members serve two-year terms. Executive Committee The board s executive committee consists of the officers of the board of directors and the NACo representative. Officers of the board include the chair, vice-chair, second vice-chair, and secretary-treasurer. Officers serve for a WCA BOARD AT A GLANCE DIRECTOR TYPE NUMBER OF SEATS Elected district directors 14 Populous county appointments 4 County executive 1 NACo representative 1 County constitutional officers 5 Diversity appointments 2 TOTAL 27
two-year term and are elected at the board of directors biennial organizational meeting from the board s membership. Officers must be county supervisors or county executives. Voting Rights The WCA constitution states that each member county has one vote for the election of district directors to be cast by the official representative. The official representative is the county board chair. If the chair is unable to vote, the vice chair, or a supervisor or executive designated by the board chair, may serve as the county s official representative. Board Meetings The board of directors meets regularly as determined by the chair. The agendas are sent to all county clerks for posting prior to each board meeting. Agendas and approved minutes can also be found on the association s website, www.wicounties.org. WCA DISTRICT MAP
P O L I C Y C R E AT I O N Policy positions contained in the WCA platform provide the framework for the association s legislative agenda. The platform contains positions adopted at the annual business meeting and by the board of directors. Annual Business Meeting The annual business meeting establishes policy positions through the adoption of official resolutions. Member counties submit resolutions to be considered at the meeting. WCA steering committees review the resolutions and make recommendations to the Resolutions Committee. The Resolutions Committee makes recommendations to the annual business meeting. The Resolutions Committee asks the following questions when debating resolutions: (1) Is the resolution timely? (2) Is the resolution of statewide concern? (3) Does the resolution address a county issue? Each county has one vote on official resolutions. However, a county may request the use of weighted voting for the consideration of official resolutions at the annual business meeting. Between annual business meetings, the board of directors reviews and takes action on issues brought before it. COMMITTEES Steering Committees WCA has five steering committees that review and develop policy recommendations for the board of directors. Through the steering committees, county elected officials, county appointed officials, and county employees debate and develop policy positions for the association. Each steering committee can have up to 50 members. The steering committees are appointed biennially by the chair of the board. The five steering committees are as follows: Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Health and Human Services Judicial and Public Safety Personnel, Finance, and County Organization Transportation and Public Works
Board of Directors While annual business meeting resolutions are submitted directly by member counties, policy recommendations presented to the board of directors are developed in a number of ways. First, any director can request that an issue be placed on a board meeting agenda for consideration. Second, any member county can request that the board consider an issue. Third, actions taken by steering committees are automatically referred to the board for disposition. Finally, government affairs staff can submit issues to the board for consideration. Standing Committees The chair of the board appoints standing committees with the approval of the board of directors. The Audit Committee examines each audit or review by the association s auditors. The Rules Committee proposes rules for adoption at the annual business meeting and any special meetings of the association. The Resolutions Committee reviews and makes recommendations on resolutions submitted for consideration at the annual business meeting. The chair may also appoint a Constitution Committee, on an as-needed basis, to propose amendments to the WCA constitution and/or to review and make a recommendation to the members on any amendment proposed by a county or the board of directors. Special Committees The chair, with the approval of the board of directors, may create such other committees as necessary or useful to conduct association business.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Lobbying WCA s primary function is lobbying on issues in all areas in which influencing the decision-making process can assist county government. Lobbying efforts include meeting with state legislators, their staff, and members of the executive branch of government. It also involves reviewing legislation and administrative rules, testifying before legislative committees, and negotiating with the state on county contracts. Federal Lobbying WCA partners with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to ensure that the needs of Wisconsin s counties are met at the federal level. The government affairs staff is regularly in contact with Wisconsin s congressional delegation and other federal officials to address issues facing county government. WCA government affairs associates specialize in specific countyrelated issue areas. Each lobbyist is subsequently assigned to work with each issue area s corresponding steering committee. Other duties include conducting research in support of lobbying efforts and advancing the association s goals. Government affairs staff also regularly network with their peers from other county-related organizations, municipal organizations, state associations from around the country, and other groups to help advance common goals. Legislative Outreach The WCA government affairs staff attends county board meetings, committee meetings, and multicounty meetings upon request to provide updates on issues affecting counties under consideration by the Wisconsin State Legislature and/or state agencies. In addition, staff holds regional meetings on a biennial basis to update members on key issues impacting counties in the state budget. WCA Legislative Agenda The WCA legislative agenda is approved by the board of directors and is published every two years at the beginning of each legislative session. This publication outlines the association s priorities for the each legislative session.
Capitol Watch In 2013, WCA introduced Capitol Watch, a weekly email publication, as a way for county officials to stay informed on the activities of the legislature and other issues of statewide importance. Sent weekly when the legislature is in session, this electronic newsletter notifies counties of public hearings on bills impacting counties and informs members on relevant news from the Capitol. County Ambassador Program The County Ambassador Program, or CAP Team, provides member counties the opportunity to work in conjunction with the government affairs staff promoting WCA s legislative initiatives to the Wisconsin State Legislature and state agency officials. The CAP Team meets in Madison up to four times each legislative session. Members include county board chairs, supervisors, executives, administrators, administrative coordinators, and department heads. Budget Webinars The WCA government affairs staff offers a weekly webinar series during the legislature s state budget deliberations. Each webinar previews issues up for consideration by the Joint Committee on Finance and/or the legislature, and recaps the budget actions from the previous week.
P U B L I C AT I O N S Wisconsin Counties The official publication of the association, Wisconsin Counties magazine is published monthly and was first published in 1938. With a readership of close to 10,000, the magazine has been a resource to county government for over 75 years. It provides county officials with legislative news, county best practices, and in-depth coverage of issues affecting county government. Wisconsin County Official s Handbook The most comprehensive document to date on county government operations, the handbook is updated every two years following the spring election. It is comprised of in-depth chapters covering the duties and responsibilities of county officials, personnel policies, county budgeting, open meetings law, parliamentary procedure, and much more. Wisconsin County Officials Directory Each year, WCA compiles a directory of all county government officials, both elected and appointed, in an easy-to-use spiral bound book. Each county s entry also features a brief snap shot of the county including its history, geography, and census data. The directory is a member benefit distributed to all member counties in early summer. County Government: History, Services, Funding WCA s most popular brochure, this publication is updated every two years following the spring election. Designed for use by county officials and other interested parties across the state, it includes a summary of the history of county government, enumerates the extensive services counties provide, as well as includes an in-depth look at the funding mechanisms utilized by county government.
COMMUNICATIONS Media/PR The association s media and public relations activities help to raise awareness of county issues in order to influence the legislative process, as well as to inform members and the public of critical issues discussed at the Capitol. These activities include press releases, editorial columns, radio and television interviews, podcasts, appearances on statewide radio shows, and web and social media-based strategies. In addition, WCA has public service radio announcements on county government that air statewide on a weekly basis. Website WCA s website, www.wicounties. org, is a 24/7 resource for county officials, legislators, state agency officials, and the public. The site is constantly changing and contains a wealth of information, including news, legislation affecting county government, events, publications, and much more. Social Media WCA uses social media to connect members to upto-date information about happenings at the association and in the legislature. Follow WCA on Facebook at www. facebook.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wiscounties; on LinkedIn at WCA:Wisconsin Counties Association. Podcasts WCA records podcasts with government affairs staff, legislators, and state officials. The format allows for in-depth conversations about key topics important to county officials. The entire WCA podcast collection can be found on the WCA home page at www.wicounties.org by clicking on the WCA On Air icon. WCA enews WCA enews is emailed periodically to county and state officials. This publication features updates on legislation, calls to action on critical issues at the Capitol, relevant news that impacts counties, and events of interest to the readership. News Services WCA offers county officials the opportunity to receive The Wheeler Report and WisPolitics.com, statewide news services that provide up-to-date information on legislative activity via email on a daily basis. County officials can keep track of bill introductions, legislative hearings, and floor action by the legislature. In addition, WisconsinEye provides gavelto-gavel, unedited video coverage of state proceedings. WCA provides its membership access to MyWisconsinEye, which allows tailored access to video coverage by providing notification via email or text when coverage on selected topics will air.
EDUCATION Annual Conference The WCA Annual Conference and Marketplace provides an opportunity for all county officials to learn, network, and gain access to vendors serving county government. With over 1,000 attendees, the annual conference is held every fall in various locations around the state and features outstanding educational workshops and keynote speakers. Educational workshops have included topics such as juvenile justice, county road construction, county financial statements, and protecting counties from cyber threats. The WCA Marketplace is held in conjunction with the conference and allows county officials a chance to see cutting-edge products and services from businesses serving county government. Legislative Exchange Every February, WCA holds its annual Legislative Exchange in Madison. This two-day event draws over 200 government officials from around Wisconsin and includes discussion on legislative proposals affecting counties, reports by WCA government affairs staff and state officials, as well as updates on other key issues facing county government. Held in conjunction with the Legislative Exchange, the WCA County Reception celebrates county government with county partners, including state legislators, supreme court justices, and state agency leaders. County Board Chairs Forum Beginning in 2018, WCA will host a training session specifically designed for county board chairs. The County Board Chairs Forum will provide board chairs with the knowledge needed to run effective meetings, as well as ensure compliance with state laws, such as the open meetings and public records laws. The twoday session is also intended to allow board chairs to network with their colleagues from across the state, and learn effective strategies on engaging the public and defining roles and responsibilities.
What Are Counties? WCA created the What are Counties? toolkit for county officials to use when educating citizens on the role of county government. The toolkit is a valuable teaching tool when speaking to civic groups, students, and other entities on county government services. This trio of resources includes an engaging two-minute video, a PowerPoint presentation providing in-depth information on what counties do in our state, and a brochure showing how counties help make our state such a great place to work and live. To share the good news of what counties do to Help Make Wisconsin Great, download these resources directly from the WCA website at www.wicounties.org. To receive hard copies of all of these materials, including the DVD and extra trifold brochures, call the WCA office at 608.663.7188. Webinars To reduce travel time and expenses, WCA offers free, educational webinars on current issues impacting county officials, which members can access right from their computers. Educational Seminars WCA conducts free, day-long educational seminars to assist county officials in keeping upto-date on changing laws and county responsibilities. Presented by expert speakers, topics have included parliamentary procedure, highway liability, strategic planning, emergency management, broadband development, fraud prevention, plus a wide variety of personnel and labor relations issues. Centrally located in the state, WCA seminars provide continuing education to assist county officials in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. The Parli Pro Show In late 2017, WCA launched The Parli Pro Show. This online resource provides brief videos, with each lasting two to four minutes, addressing parliamentary procedure topics. The Parli Pro Show features WCA Executive Director Mark O Connell and WCA Director of Programs and Services Michael Lamont and can be found at www. wicounties.org.
SERVICES WISCONSIN COUNT Y MU TUAL I N S U R A N C E C O R P. In response to the 1985 municipal liability insurance crisis, Wisconsin counties formed the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) to provide general liability, automobile, police professional, and errors and omissions insurance to counties. The County Mutual began operations in 1987 and is owned by 52 of Wisconsin s 72 counties. The services of the County Mutual have grown considerably. The company provides property insurance, excess workers compensation insurance to self-insured counties, cyber liability coverage, as well as coverages for county nursing homes. Additionally, the Owner-Direct Insurance Program (ODIP) is a cost-saving product that allows counties to take control of their insurance needs on building projects. The County Mutual has cutting-edge loss control programs to keep its focus on workplace safety to hold both claim frequency and total claim costs low. The Advanced Law Enforcement Risk Training (A.L.E.R.T.) program provides safety training for law enforcement officers and holds a law enforcement challenge each year. The County Mutual also partners with Lexipol to provide, at no cost to members, a review of policy manuals for public safety agencies. The ALARIS Nurse Care Line serves as a resource to employees and helps reduce workers compensation claim costs. The County Mutual is governed by an 18-member board of directors elected by member counties. Under contract, WCA provides corporate management services to the County Mutual. For more information, visit www.wisconsincountymutual.org. W W W. W I S C O N S I N C O U N T Y M U T U A L. O R G
WCA GROUP HEALTH TRUST In 1991, counties joined together to create the WCA Group Health Trust (GHT) to provide employee benefit programs with a high level of quality and service. The GHT provides health, dental, and vision benefits to county, municipal, and school district employees. The GHT is a leader in the health benefits industry providing a quality program with great service. It offers flexibility by custom designing an employee benefit program for each group, including one of the most comprehensive and dynamic wellness programs available. Annually, thousands of members actively engage in various wellness activities. The GHT is committed to helping its members become healthier versions of themselves. The GHT is governed by a 15-member board of directors comprised of local officials. Under contract, WCA provides corporate management services to GHT. For more information, visit www.wcaght.org. WWW.WCAGHT.ORG WCA SERVICES, INC. WCA Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of WCA, is committed to providing programs and services that assist local governments in operating more efficiently and cost effectively. The company provides local governments with programs and services from reputable private sector companies. The success of WCA Services, Inc. is due in part to its insistence on high standards from companies that provide counties and other public entities with meaningful solutions. Since 1997, every county in the state has benefited from the programs, products, and services offered through WCA Services, Inc. The financial support from WCA Services, Inc. to WCA has allowed dues to remain the same for almost 20 years. WCA Services, Inc. is governed by a 12-member board of directors. For more information, visit www.wcasi.com. WWW.WCASI.COM
22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900 Madison, WI 53703 Toll Free: 1.866.404.2700 Phone: 608.663.7188 www.wicounties.org