News

In The News
Newsletter

4/1/24

1st Quarter 2024 President’s Message

The decision by leaders of the Milwaukee Public Schools to place a referendum on school funding on the April 2 ballot posed a difficult dilemma for the Forum. We are very careful about the reports we publish close to election days, as it is squarely against our mission to do...Read More

3/25/24

David Ahrens: Does the city of Madison really need a referendum for more money?

Wisconsin State JournalRead More
Event Recap

3/22/24

Forum Friday: The ABCs of the MPS Referendum

The ABCs of the MPS Referendum Virtual event | March 22, 2024 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. On March 22, our popular virtual event series Forum Friday, focused on the April 2 referendum that will ask city of Milwaukee voters whether the Milwaukee Public Schools should be allowed to exceed...Read More
Newsletter

1/3/24

News & Updates | 4th Quarter 2023

President’s Message It’s not often that the Forum issues an urgent call for action as a result of our research, but we came close to doing so in Under Pressure, our August 2023 examination of the Milwaukee County justice system’s recovery from COVID-19. We warned in that report that several...Read More
Newsletter

1/3/24

4th Quarter 2023 President’s Message

It’s not often that the Forum issues an urgent call for action as a result of our research, but we came close to doing so in Under Pressure, our August 2023 examination of the Milwaukee County justice system’s recovery from COVID-19. We warned in that report that several key pillars...Read More
Event Recap

12/8/23

Forum Friday: The Future of the UW System

The Future of the UW System Virtual event | December 8, 2023 On Friday, December 8, our popular virtual event series, Forum Friday, focused on the challenges facing the UW System and impacts on the state’s workforce needs. We began the program an overview of our research on Wisconsin’s public...Read More
Event

10/9/23

2023 Salute to Local Government Award Winners

The 31st Annual Salute celebrated the benefits that public sector ingenuity and excellence bring to taxpayers and communities throughout Wisconsin. Award categories recognized local governments and school districts for innovative problem-solving, advancing racial equity, and public-private cooperation, as well as individuals in the public sector for excellence, leaders of the future, and lifetime achievement. ...Read More
Newsletter

9/29/23

3rd Quarter 2023 President’s Message

I wrote my first report on a local government budget for the Forum in October 2008. At the time, there was a great deal of acrimony between then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and the Board of Supervisors, which plunged discussion of even the most mundane fiscal issues into politics and...Read More
Newsletter

9/29/23

News & Updates | 3rd Quarter 2023

President’s message I wrote my first report on a local government budget for the Forum in October 2008. At the time, there was a great deal of acrimony between then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and the Board of Supervisors, which plunged discussion of even the most mundane fiscal issues into...Read More