League of Wisconsin Municipalities

09/25/2026

"What we've got here is failure to communicate."

These famous words spoken in the movie Cool Hand Luke could be applied to many public initiatives that seem to fall flat, cause confusion, or even outrage. So, how can municipal leaders use communication to build trust and engagement in their communities?

We asked Civic Connection presenters Kimberly Kane and Matt Hamrin of Kane Communications Group about their upcoming presentation on the Language of Innovation. They shared insights learned through their years of experience and promise takeaways you can add to your communications strategy right away.

View the full schedule and register for the League Civic Connection today:
https://learning.leaguewi.org/CC

09/24/2026

Did you know that 91% of high schools and 93% of university, college, and technical college campuses and branches are in cities and villages? Municipalities provide the services that help facilitate education and training for the next generation of Wisconsin’s community leaders.

09/23/2026

Wisconsin voters are heading to the polls soon, and the factors driving public opinion extend well beyond any single race.

Join us at the League Civic Connection for an exciting look into The Forces Shaping Wisconsin’s Midterms with Charles Franklin, Professor of Law and Public Policy at Marquette Law School, and Director of the Marquette Law School Poll.

Using his most recent polling data, Professor Franklin will examine where Wisconsinites stand on the major issues shaping both the midterm elections and local government, including community funding through property taxes, broader economic outlooks, and new developments like data centers.

Get a clearer look at the polling numbers and public sentiment driving Wisconsin this fall.

View the full schedule and register for the League Civic Connection today: https://learning.leaguewi.org/CC

09/22/2026

What are we actually committing to repay here?

If you’ve ever questioned the fine print of municipal debt or struggled with understanding the budgeting process, our two new self-paced courses are built for you.

The League Learning Lab just launched two new Municipal Finance Essentials modules featuring visual slides, interactive exercises, and knowledge checks:

Municipal Borrowing & Debt Management: Navigate the loan lifecycle, understand repayment terms, and know when to call in experts.

Basics of Budgeting: Master the full budget cycle, tackle revenue shortfalls, and build a hands-on Borrowing Readiness Brief.

Learn at your own pace, whenever it fits your schedule.
Start today: https://learning.leaguewi.org/finance

09/19/2026

Why should you attend Civic Connection? Well, we asked around the League office (and our host City of Appleton Government) to find out. Maybe we should have given some of them a heads-up before recording...

At any rate, this is one event you DO NOT want to miss. If you need more convincing, the full agenda is online now and it is packed with opportunities to learn, get creative, share ideas, and build strong connections with other municipalities.

We can't wait to see you there! View Agenda and register : https://learning.leaguewi.org/CC

09/18/2026

Did you catch a familiar voice on WPR yesterday? League Executive Director Emily McFarland was a guest on The Lee Rayburn Show discussing how the League of Wisconsin Municipalities connects and advocates for cities and villages. If you missed the segment, take a listen at the link.

The resources and advocacy Wisconsin cities and villages get from one statewide organization. Then, we talk about how we can better fund our schools. And then, we talk about the contributions and needs of Native American tribes.

09/17/2026

Did you know 74% of Wisconsin’s population lives in cities and villages that make up just 6% of the state’s land area? Cities and villages create places and spaces people want to live, work, and play. They support job creators and provide the services we rely on every day.

09/16/2026

The Building Inspectors Institute is officially underway in Appleton! 🎉

Municipal building inspectors from across Wisconsin have gathered for three days of technical code training, DSPS updates, and field safety strategies—including a legislative update from our own Evan Miller, League Government Affairs Director.

Thanks to all the local inspectors in attendance working to keep our communities safe and built to code!

09/16/2026

Many municipalities across Wisconsin face the same challenge: a shortage of housing options for first-time buyers, downsizers, or a growing workforce. 🏡

For years, Ellsworth, Wisconsin saw an average of just 4 new housing units built per year. But thanks to intentional local leadership, updated planning, and modernized zoning, Ellsworth added over 100 housing units in 2024–2025 alone! 🎉

Check out this article from the September issue of The Municipality to learn how Ellsworth is working to create an environment where development actually happens:
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/262129228/8/

This interactive flipbook is created with FlippingBook, a service for streaming PDFs online. No download, no waiting. Open and start reading right away!

09/15/2026

We’re live in Appleton for the Municipal Assessors Institute!

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford helped kick things off this morning to welcome municipal assessors from across Wisconsin. Attendees are spending the next few days diving into educational sessions, policy updates, and getting to know and learn from other assessors.

Thank you to Mayor Woodford and all our presenters for sharing their expertise with Wisconsin’s local government leaders.