Ordinance Amendment 

    OA4: 2002-2003

Prohibiting County Employees from using county funds to lobby county officials

Sponsored by Supervisors Hitzemann, Wendt, Wiganowsky, Bruskewitz, Salkin, O’Loughlin, Anderson and Shoer.

Synopsis:  Would forbid Dane County employees from using any County money, resources or paid time to urge County residents to contact County elected officials to support continued or additional funding of county services.  The ordinance would not apply to the County Board or Executive.  This ordinance amendment was introduced in response to the practice of a county department of sending letters out to recipients of County-funded grants urging the recipients to contact their County Board members in support of the program.

Pro:  Public funds should not be expended to promote more expenditures.

Con:  Public employees should be able to share their knowledge and expertise with citizens and encourage them to communicate with County elected officials.

Recommendation:  DCTA strongly supports the ordinance amendment and urges Town Board members to contact County supervisors in support of it.  The Association believes that taxpayer dollars should not be funding lobbying of the electorate.