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Nov. 21 2008 Weekly Update November 20, 2008 
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WTBA Safety Program & Meeting on Dec. 16 WTBA is sponsoring a free 3-hour Roadway Safety Program in Madison on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Taught by staff from the American Road & Transportation Builders Assn., the program at the Crowne Plaza Hotel provides an overview of common hazards in highway and road construction, as well as simple prevention measures. It was designed to be flexible enough to use for "new hires" or experienced managers, with 15 easy-to-follow modules covering a range of topics from "Run-overs and Back-overs" to night work. Please take advantage of this FREE training session, which will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 16. Attendance is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is Dec. 8. To register, return this form to the WTBA office by Dec. 8. Also on Dec. 16, the WTBA Safety Committee will meet from 10 a.m. until noon at the Crowne Plaza. If you have any questions about the Safety Committee meeting or the Roadway Safety Program, please contact Matt Grove at mgrove@wtba.org.
Joint Finance Committee Panel Announced Legislative leadership this week announced the membership of the Joint Finance Committee that will be tasked with developing the Legislature's version of the 2009-11 budget proposal. State agencies recently submitted their budget requests to the Department of Administration's (DOA) budget office. DOA will now consider those requests as it develops the Governor's Executive Budget proposal, which will be released in February. Joint Finance deliberations in spring will be key to developing a final budget by July 1, 2009 -- the start of the next biennium. Budget committee members for the 2009-10 session will be: Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), co-chairs. Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) Sen. John Lehman (D-Racine) Sen. July Robson (D-Beloit) Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) Rep. Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine) Rep. Phil Montgomery (R-Ashwaubenon)
State Budget Outlook: Bad & Getting Worse An already tough upcoming state budget process got tougher Thursday as the administration released revenue estimates for the next two years. The bottom line: The current biennial budget, which has already been the subject of a repair bill last spring, is facing a $346.2 million deficit while the projected deficit for the upcoming budget is $5.4 billion, the largest in state history. The Department of Revenue forecasts General Fund tax revenues will fall 2.2% in the current fiscal year and 3.9% in the first year of the upcoming state budget. The department forecasts a rebound in the second year, with revenues increasing 4.1%. These estimates assume that the national economy will endure a severe recession over at least the next year. "New funding will only be possible for the highest priority programs and many areas of the budget will have to be severely curtailed or eliminated," Administration Secretary Mike Morgan wrote in a cover letter accompanying the revenue estimates. "Growing Wisconsin's economy and protecting education and health care will demand that the state maximize federal Medicaid revenues and ensure equitable revenue sources for transportation and other critical infrastructure needs." At a media availability on Thursday, Gov. Doyle said he intended to introduce an oil company gross receipts tax as part of his budget proposal.
Dec. 2 Holiday Party WTBA's annual holiday party will be held from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4402 E. Washington Ave., Madison. The free event includes refreshments and hors d'ouvres. Please e-mail kbrown@wtba.org to RSVP.
No Weekly Update Next Week There will be no Weekly Update next week in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Upcoming Events Dec. 2, 2008: WTBA Holiday Party, Crowne Plaza, Madison Jan. 21-22, 2009: Contractor-Engineer Conference, Marriott West, Madison Feb. 15-19, 2009: 2009 WTBA Convention, Sheraton Hacienda del Mar, Cabo San Lucas June 13, 2009: WTBA of Tomorrow Summer Outing, Lake Geneva July 16, 2009: WTBA Golf Outing, Trappers Turn, WI Dells
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