COVID-19 UPDATES FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS

As issues continue to develop and change at a quick rate with COVID-19, the Coronavirus, we at the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) are working alongside Governor Tony Evers, the Administration, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and our general counsel, Attolles Law, s.c., to provide the latest resources and updates to assist county officials during this unprecedented time.

COVID-19 Daily Update: 4.23.2020

April 23, 2020

COVID-19 DAILY HEALTH UPDATE
(Information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) current as of 1:00 p.m. Central, Thursday, April 23, 2020)

  • Total people with negative results: 51,456 (+1,954)
  • Total people with positive results: 5,052 (+207)
  • Hospitalizations: 1,318 (+16) or 26%
  • Total deaths: 257 (+11)

Q AND A: ACT 185 UPDATE-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON PROPERTY TAX
On April 20, 2020, the Association published guidance in Q & A format regarding the changes to the property tax collection process brought about by 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 (“Act 185”). 

Since that time, the Association and its general counsel, von Briesen & Roper, s.c., have engaged in extensive discussions with our county treasurers to identify, review and discuss several outstanding issues associated with the new law that were not completely addressed in the previous guidance. We offer the guidance below based upon the analysis conducted by the Wisconsin County Treasurers’ Association and reviewed by our general counsel.

As indicated in previous guidance, the issues associated with Act 185 implementation are complex and different counties may choose to proceed down different paths. It is imperative that counties work closely with their treasurer, corporation counsel, administration and their municipal partners in implementing Act 185.

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE: PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION INFORMATION
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has released property assessment and taxation information. This is a proposed guidance document and has been submitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Administrative Register for public comment as provided by sec. 227.112(1), Wis. Stats.

The following is the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s (DOR) response to local government questions on property assessment and taxation due to the public health emergency declared for COVID-19. This information is per state statutes and was updated for 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 published on April 16, 2020.

FACT SHEET FROM FEMA REGARDING ADDRESSING PPE NEEDS IN NON-HEALTHCARE SETTING
FEMA has published the below Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting.

This guidance summarizes how organizations should consider and manage their personal protective equipment (PPE) needs while ensuring the protection of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response, including how to preserve limited supplies of PPE, how to consider need during periods of shortages, and how to acquire and request PPE (i.e., in the face of critical shortages and whereas normal supply chain allocation cannot meet operational requirements).

STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WORKING TO STOP SPREAD OF COVID-19
The State Emergency Operations Center has brought together government leaders with some of the best and brightest minds in business and technology – all Wisconsinites – to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

There are Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) doctors, nurses, and public health professions, other staff from across Wisconsin state government working alongside health care system partners, leaders from Epic Systems, the Wisconsin Emergency Management, and the National Guard working together to tackle the challenges we face during the COVID-19 pandemic here in Wisconsin. Teams at the State Emergency Operations Center are creating and implementing plans on important topics like essential supplies, contact tracing, and lab capacity, in an ever-changing situation.