Monday, May 11, 2026

THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT MEETS ON MAY 20, 2026. TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS SHOULD BE THERE!

Appleton, WI News Updates

City of Appleton

Appleton City Council Update: May 11, 2026

Sheri Hartzheim - 0
The Finance Committee will take up a plan to restructure funding for the city's Central Equipment Agency. The recommendation is to keep the current CEA structure (meaning that the departments themselves don't own or replace the equipment/vehicles) but to fund it with city borrowing/debt. This plan is obviously a loophole around levy limits and will, of course, increase the city's debt load. 

Appleton City Council Update: May 3, 2026

Sheri Hartzheim -

Appleton City Council Update: April 26, 2026

Sheri Hartzheim -

Appleton City Council Update: April 19, 2026

Sheri Hartzheim -

Appleton City Council Update: April 12, 2026

Sheri Hartzheim -

TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE

The Coming Grand Chute Property Tax Increase

Walt Nocito - 0
If Grand Chute will be significantly smaller in the future, due to annexations by Appleton, it calls into question the need for the size of the municipal complex expansion as planned today. A better solution would be to plan for the use of leased interim space to meet current space needs.

Declining Civility

Walt Nocito -

The Case for a New Town-Wide Reassessment

Jeff Ings -

Is Brad Gehring Responsible for Local Political Firestorm?

Jeff Ings -

Candidates for Grand Chute Town Supervisor Meet in Policy Forum

Diane Bast -
- ADVERTISEMENT -spot_img

APPLETON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Education War: Part Two

Hot Jack - 0
If your school board fails to answer your very reasonable questions, they do not have the best interest of YOUR children at heart. They are simply flunkies of the FOR-PROFIT education industry and need to be replaced by those who actually care: parents.

The Education War: Part One

Hot Jack -

IRG Files Complaint Over DPI’s Secret Meeting to Lower Testing Standards

Press Release -

Appleton Citizens Ask about AASD Referendum, Performance, and More

Mike Janke -

AASD Candidate Janke to Hold Q&A Session on Saturday, April 4

Diane Bast -

Appleton Concerned Taxpayers

Report on October Meeting with the Mayor

Walter "Burt" Blank - 0
On October 21, 2025, several representatives of Appleton Concerned Taxpayers (ACT) met with Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford. We discussed several items of concern with respect to the city budget, including questions about wastewater and stormwater expenses in the 2026 budget and debt service increases. We also discussed the "Stop the Noise" project and other non-budget-related matters.

Ackmann Discusses Moms for Liberty at July Meeting of Fox Valley Initiative

Anthony Phillips -

Inflation Calculator Available on Heritage Foundation Website

Diane Bast -

ACT Remarks Delivered at the June 5, 2024 Common Council Meeting

Walter "Burt" Blank -

Increase the Wheel Tax or Not?

Walter "Burt" Blank -

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY

A Door-Knocking Conversation

Mike Janke - 0
In the end, we agreed that we had different political views and that they wouldn’t sign my paperwork. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and shook hands. I left the conversation stating that this was why I had a Charlie Kirk sign. We were able to have a frank exchange of ideas, not get upset with each other and still part on good terms.

My Trip to the Bowling Alley

Mike Janke -

The Pride of America: 1,059 New Soldiers

Mike Janke -

Republican Party of Outagamie County Seeks Leadership Volunteers

Outagamie County Republican Party -

Do Outagamie County Localities Plan to Use Ballot Drop Boxes?

Mike Janke -

STATE OF WISCONSIN

2nd Assembly District Update: May 11, 2026

Shae Sortwell - 0
Wisconsin State Rep. Shae Sortwell testified regarding AB997, which directs the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to make contributions to Trump accounts and increase the programs' operation appropriation by $60 million each year for this purpose.

Looking for Fraud in all the Wrong Places

Joan Beglinger -

55th Assembly District Update: May 8, 2026

Nate Gustafson -

56th Assembly District Update: May 8, 2026

Dave Murphy -

Congressman Tony Wied’s Update: May 8, 2026

Congressman Tony Wied -

PRESS RELEASES

Easton Elmer Receives Fox Valley Initiative Scholarship to Attend LEAD WI

Diane Bast - 0
Easton Elmer, a 13-year-old from the Fox Valley, was awarded a scholarship to attend the LEAD WI summer camp hosted by Wisconsin Family Council. The award presentation was made on Monday, May 4 at a meeting of Fox Valley Initiative (FVI), which funded the scholarship.

Court Grants WILL Motion, Dismisses Second Redistricting Case

Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty -

IRG Poll: Wisconsin Voters Want Cheaper Food, Lower Taxes and Smaller Government

Press Release -

IRG Files Complaint Over DPI’s Secret Meeting to Lower Testing Standards

Press Release -

Fox Valley Initiative to Fund a Scholarship to LEAD WI

Ruth Elmer -

ASK THE NEXT QUESTION!

Should the City of Appleton change the way it funds the Central Equipment Agency? Currently, the agency is paid by city departments that "rent" equipment from the agency. A recommendation has been made that the agency be funded by city borrowing/debt instead. What do you think of increasing the city's debt load? Let Alderman Sheri Hartzheim know by clicking the link below.

Email the Alderman

“The key to wisdom is this: constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.”

Peter Abelard

- ADVERTISEMENT -Our Patient Rights

GOOD TO KNOW

UPCOMING EVENTS

OPINION

Looking for Fraud in all the Wrong Places

Joan Beglinger - 0
WEC continues to maintain a statewide Registered Voter List that includes 8.2 million total names -- in a state with only 4.6 million voting-aged citizens. The Commission refuses to purge more than 4 million names of ineligible voters and offers no defense for its indefensible position.

They Come to You in Sheep’s Clothing

Joan Beglinger -

Declining Civility

Walt Nocito -

The Education War: Part Two

Hot Jack -

Wisconsin Democrats, Please Renounce this Violence

Mike Janke -

Gerrymandering Is No Way to Win

Joan Beglinger -

EVENTS

Fox Valley Initiative to Host Climate Expert Steve Goreham

Diane Bast - 0
On Monday, June 1, Fox Valley Initiative (FVI) will host Steve Goreham, executive director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and a policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. Goreham is the author of four books on climate change. The meeting will take place at Freedom Project Academy, 750 North Hickory Farm Lane, Appleton. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The program will run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Kleefisch, Bonwell Focus on How Conservatives Can Win

Anthony Phillips -

Kleefisch, Bonwell to Speak on Monday, May 4

Diane Bast -

Learn about Fair Maps in Wisconsin

Guest Author -

April 6 Forum Highlights Turning Point USA, Lawrence University

Anthony Phillips -

Appleton Citizens Ask about AASD Referendum, Performance, and More

Mike Janke -

MUST-SEE VIDEOS

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

This website is brought to you by Appleton Concerned Taxpayers. ACT is an independent, non-partisan citizen's advocacy group committed to promoting lower taxes and accountable government.

We are looking for writers, especially those willing to report on government meetings. Cartoonists too? Contact us: info@wipatriotstoolbox.com