Blog
4/16/18
Are Driverless Trucks Coming to Wisconsin?
In the most recent issue of our Focus newsletter, we briefly mentioned a proposal to create dedicated autonomous vehicle lanes to accommodate Foxconn trucks from Mitchell Field in Milwaukee to Mount Pleasant in neighboring Racine County. Space limitations prevented more discussion of autonomous vehicles and their possible impact in Wisconsin.
Read MoreBlog
4/4/18
Racine Fiscal Report Embodies WPF’s New Statewide Focus
Since 2008, the Public Policy Forum (PPF) has published six detailed local government financial analyses using a methodology we adapted from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). We’re proud of this work, which has been recognized with a national award by the Governmental Research Association. Today, we release a seventh
Read MoreBlog
4/3/18
1st Quarter 2018 President’s Message
After such a busy year of planning and deliberation, it’s hard to believe the Wisconsin Policy Forum is now three months old. Of course, three months is far too soon to declare “mission accomplished,” but a brief progress report certainly is in order. In my last message in early January
Read MoreBlog
3/13/18
Deferred parking lots maintenance reveal major parks challenges
Over the past two years, the Forum has been conducting a long-term research project analyzing the condition of local government infrastructure in metro Milwaukee and the capacity of local governments to finance their infrastructure needs. So far, our five-part series of reports has included installments on City of Milwaukee and
Read MoreBlog
2/28/18
Rental housing affordability and equity are critical issues now more than ever
Rental housing affordability is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in advancing the state’s and Milwaukee area’s regional economy. In fact, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s “state of the city” speech on Monday emphasizes the importance of this issue on the local policymaking scene. As this year’s Norman N. Gill Fellow at
Read MoreBlog
1/17/18
“Last mile” transportation strategies remain elusive
The Milwaukee County Transit System’s recently announced bus route eliminations exemplify the difficulty of providing transit services that effectively connect workers who live in the City of Milwaukee with jobs in the suburbs. Three of the routes to be eliminated (Routes 219, 223, and 276) are “shuttle routes” designed to
Read MoreBlog
12/27/17
4th Quarter 2017 President’s Message
When the clock hits midnight on December 31, a long chapter will come to a close for the Public Policy Forum, and an exciting new one will begin. On that date, our merger with the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance will be effectuated, and we will become a statewide policy research organization
Read MoreBlog
12/22/17
2016-17 annual report on public schooling in southeast Wisconsin delivers mixed news
As many schools throughout Wisconsin get ready to take their winter breaks, the Public Policy Forum releases its 32nd annual public education report: Public Schooling in Southeast Wisconsin: 2017. In this year’s analysis, we find reason for cautious optimism regarding some measures of academic achievement, while other longstanding challenges endure.
Read MoreBlog
12/19/17
Forum’s Top Five Research Findings of 2017
It’s been a busy year for the Forum. Despite all of the work involved with our merger with WISTAX, our research agenda has remained robust and our research findings have been the subject of policy deliberations on many fronts. Here, we take one more look back to unveil the Forum’s
Read More
