{{CFirstName}}, you are receiving this e-newsletter because you have shown interest in public policy issues. Contact us if you don't want to receive future issues.

Volume 7, Issue 21, Oct 7, 2024
 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis. 
Published the first business day of each week
Business Advocate Past Issues
Public Meetings Calendar
Chamber Events Calendar
The Chamber's Advocacy Principles
The Chamber's 2024 Business Issues Agenda
"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
How to become a Chamber investor
Contact: Scott Rogers, VP Governmental Affairs
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
Chamber Business Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30a-5:00p, Friday 7:30a-1:30p

In this issue:
 • First look at draft City of Eau Claire 2025 operating budget
 • Chamber candidate information: Local State Assembly races
 • New Marquette poll
 • Port strike ends, strong jobs report
 • Food for thought
 • Mark your calendar
Note on article links: A subscription is required for those marked with "$"
Publications known to have article limits or other access restrictions for non-subscribers are marked with "+"

This week...
Legislative Candidates Meet-and-Greet
   An in-person opportunity to meet the candidates. In a format similar to a parent-teacher conference or a reverse job fair, each candidate will be assigned a table where they can greet voters and answer questions. Invited: All major party Legislative candidates in area Assembly Districts 67, 68, 69, 91, 92, 93. This event is co-sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley, the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, the Menomonie Area Chamber and Visitors Bureau, the League of Women Voters of the Chippewa Valley, and the LE Phillips Memorial Public Library.
• Thursday, Oct 10, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Eau Claire Public Library
    Click here for event details No charge to attend. No pre-registration required.
    Click here for full information on local State Assembly races

Lunch: Rebecca Cooke, 3rd District Congressional Candidate
   The second in our series of opportunities with 3rd District Congressional Candidates. (We hosted a similar event with Rep. Derrick Van Orden on Oct 1. See the story below).
•  Friday, October 11, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Light lunch provided)
    Chamber offices, WNB Conference Room 101 N. Farwell St., Eau Claire
    Click here for details and to register 

Eggs & Issues: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, & Transit
   This timely program dives into the future of transportation for the Chippewa Valley. As our economy continues to grow, what roles will key modes of transportation play in providing access and mobility for the community and our workforce? Panelists include Debby Jackson, Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin; Charity Zich, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport; Dave Solberg, Eau Claire Deputy City Manager; Ty Fadness, Eau Claire Transit; and Scott Rogers, Eau Claire Chamber and West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition.
 • Friday, Oct 25, 7:00-9:00 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

Also for your calendar...
• Business After Hours - Monday, Oct 7 (tonight!)
• Bravo to Business Awards - Wednesday, Oct 23
• What's on your November ballot - Tuesday, Oct 29
• Economic Outlook Luncheon - Tuesday, Nov 12
• Eggs & Issues: Election Analysis Charles Franklin - Friday, Nov 15
• 2024 Business Solutions Summit - Wednesday, Nov 20

First look at draft City of Eau Claire 2025 operating budget
   The draft 2025 operating budget for the City of Eau Claire was released on Friday afternoon and will be the topic of a public discussion at the Monday City Council meeting. The Council will also hold a work session following its Tuesday meeting about the budget.
   According to the City Manager's Budget Message at the beginning of the document, "The 2025 Proposed Budget for the City of Eau Claire, not including the capital budget, totals $190,288,829. Compared to the 2024 Adopted Budget, this represents a total increase of $11.4M, or 6.4 percent," said City Manager Stephanie Hirsch in the message. "The operating budget for the City of Eau Claire is comprised of various funds. The General Fund accounts for most of the City's core service and represents 50.71 percent of the total operating budget, followed by Enterprise Funds (23.89 percent), Special Revenue Funds (12.49 percent), Debt Service (7.21 percent), Internal Service Funds (5.44 percent), and Component Units (0.26 percent)."
   Hirsch emphasized efforts to address financial challenges. "We need to address our structural deficit before it significantly impacts our City services and resident quality of life," she said. "Eau Claire has struggled with fiscal constraints for the past 30 years. Prior City leadership team members have turned over every stone to find efficiencies. In that time period, though the City and expectations grew, staffing levels have fallen."
   There will be other public hearings and information over the next several weeks with a goal to adopt the budget at the November 12 City Council meeting.
Click here to see the full proposed 2025 operating budget
Micro Transit Study presentation and meeting
   After Monday's meeting, the Council will hold a work session with Transit Manager Ty Fadness to discuss the Micro Transit Design and Feasibility Study currently being conducted by Via Transportation. 
   According to the City Manager's weekly email, "Some of the ideas they will discuss include: The possibility of implementing low-cost on-demand transit (similar to Lyft or Uber, but subsidized) to provide coverage for the parts of the city and the times of the week that are not well served by fixed routes due to lower ridership; and different options with regard to our Transit fare structures."
   There will also be an open house on the study on Tuesday afternoon, 1:00-2:00, at the Central Maintenance Facility. 
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
 • Monday, Oct 7, 6 p.m. Public Hearing Agenda Packet (4 pages)
    2025 Proposed Operating Budget (City of Eau Claire, opengov.com)
 • Tuesday, Oct 8, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (74 pages)
    Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
    City Council Online Comment Form (City of Eau Claire)
    Contact information: City Council members (City of Eau Claire)
City Budget: Budget Process and Current Documents (City of Eau Claire)
Adopted 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)

Transit Study Open House
• Tuesday, Oct 8, 1-2 p.m. Central Maintenance Facility, 910 Forest Street
City Manager's weekly email with study information
Via Transportation website
Can Microtransit and Regular Buses Live in Harmony? (Bloomberg City Lab)

City of Eau Claire Fall District Discussions
   Eau Claire City leaders are continuing a series of sessions in various neighborhoods to discuss the budget and other topics. Sessions coming up include:

• South Side: Thursday, October 10th, 6 to 7:30PM, South Middle School Cafeteria (District Discussions - South District)
• North Side: Wednesday, October 16th, 6 to 7:30PM, Northstar Middle School Cafeteria (District Discussions - North District)
• Central: Thursday, October 17th, 6 to 7:30PM, Senior Center (Share Facebook event here: (District Discussions - Central District)

City to discuss 2025 budget and other topics during fall district discussions (Leader-Telegram $)

Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, Oct 7, 7 p.m. Meeting information

Altoona City Council
• Thursday, Oct 10, 6 p.m. Meeting information

Van Orden meets with Chamber investors
   In the first of a series of meetings with major party candidates for 3rd District Congress, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-3rd, Prairie du Chien) met with Chamber investors at a breakfast last Tuesday. A wide ranging discussion of economic issues included the farm bill, the port strike, the coming tax cliff, and other issues. Chamber investors can still sign up to attend the Chamber meeting with the Democratic candidate, Rebecca Cooke (D-Eau Claire), on Friday, October 11. Click here for details.
More information:
Van Orden speaks at Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast (WEAU 13 News)
Rep. Van Orden holds roundtable on economics in Eau Claire (WQOW News 18)
Van Orden discusses farm bill, dock workers strike, and impacts on farmers (Leader-Telegram $)
Delayed farm bill punted until after election with Congress stuck on how to pay for it (Wisconsin Examiner)

McCoshen looks ahead to anticipated election results
   Season Wisconsin political expert Bill McCoshen spoke at the Chamber's Eggs & Issues breakfast on September 27, revealing that his analysis of election prospects points to potential national Trump win for President, a narrow Baldwin victory in the US Senate race, and a significantly narrowed Republican majority in the State Assembly. McCoshen, a partner at Michael Best Strategies, is a former state commerce secretary and chief of staff to former Gov. Tommy Thompson.
More information:
Recap: McCoshen remarks at Eggs & Issues (Eau Claire Chamber)
Chamber event speaker predicts Trump win, Republicans control Wisconsin Senate (Leader-Telegram $)

More election stories...

Marquette Poll: Presidential choices in Wisconsin hold steady in new poll results, with Harris at 52% and Trump at 48% (Marquette Law School Poll)
Marquette poll takeaways: Independents lean toward Harris, half avoid talking politics (Journal-Sentinel +)

Trump talks border, Hurricane Helene response at Dodge County rally (WPR)

Kamala Harris, Liz Cheney slam Trump for Jan. 6 insurrection at Ripon rally (WPR)

Wisconsin Democrats outspend Republicans by more than 2-to-1 in latest filing (WPR)

Wisconsin election protections in good shape, research finds (The Cap Times)

State to investigate Wausau mayor’s removal of ballot drop box (WPR)