MONROE - Green County will have the opportunity to place a referendum question on the August primary ballot under a bill co-authored by Rep. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Rep. Janis Ringhand, D-Evansville.
Senate Bill 513 unanimously passed Tuesday, Feb. 18 and now awaits a signature by Gov. Scott Walker.
The county has discussed seeking a 5-year referendum to help fund Pleasant View and replacing a 2009 referendum, which expires at the end of this year. Under current state law, Green County must use assessment numbers from the current year for a referendum question. Since these numbers are not released by the Department of Revenue until Aug. 15, and the fall primary is set for Aug. 12, Green County could not hold a referendum until November.
That, however, poses a logistical problem for county officials. Waiting until November would require preparing two county budgets, one if the referendum passed and one if the ballot measure failed.
"Pleasant View nursing home in Monroe is an important part of our community," Marklein said in a news release. "The nursing home serves 130 Green County residents. The residents of Green County should be given the option to voice their opinion on this referendum."
Under the bill, the county will be allowed to use the most recent assessment values released by the Department of Revenue, which gives the county the opportunity to place the referendum question on the ballot earlier.
"This change leaves time for the county to meet its budget deadlines," Marklein said.
"More importantly, it allows the county to make alternative plans should the referendum fail."
Senate Bill 513 unanimously passed Tuesday, Feb. 18 and now awaits a signature by Gov. Scott Walker.
The county has discussed seeking a 5-year referendum to help fund Pleasant View and replacing a 2009 referendum, which expires at the end of this year. Under current state law, Green County must use assessment numbers from the current year for a referendum question. Since these numbers are not released by the Department of Revenue until Aug. 15, and the fall primary is set for Aug. 12, Green County could not hold a referendum until November.
That, however, poses a logistical problem for county officials. Waiting until November would require preparing two county budgets, one if the referendum passed and one if the ballot measure failed.
"Pleasant View nursing home in Monroe is an important part of our community," Marklein said in a news release. "The nursing home serves 130 Green County residents. The residents of Green County should be given the option to voice their opinion on this referendum."
Under the bill, the county will be allowed to use the most recent assessment values released by the Department of Revenue, which gives the county the opportunity to place the referendum question on the ballot earlier.
"This change leaves time for the county to meet its budget deadlines," Marklein said.
"More importantly, it allows the county to make alternative plans should the referendum fail."