Town of Lisbon Agrees to Nonbinding Arbitration with Pauline Haass

Lisbon sets conditions for library mediation. (Sussex Sun, 10/15/2013)

Apparently, the Fat Lady isn't bothering to warm up her vocal chords yet:   The Town Board on Monday night unanimously — but reluctantly — agreed to enter into nonbinding mediation with the Pauline Haass Library Board in an effort to settle their dispute over control of about 65 acres of farmland at Hickory and Lake Five roads that Pauline Haass donated to the town to be used for library purposes. 

However, the Town Board placed conditions on the mediation that the Library Board probably will not and cannot meet.

One Town of Lisbon board member has decided to make it personal, attacking the motives of Library Director Kathy Klager.

Related articles: 
An uncertain funding picture for the Pauline Haass Public Library.  (10/11/2013)
This land is my land, this land is my land.  (9/12/2013)
Sussex-Lisbon library agreement still appears to be more "if" Than "when".  (8/22/2013) 
Still following the Sussex-Lisbon library talks -- since 2010.  (8/6/2013) 
Following a brouhaha over a "most objectionable 3-page letter," library talks to resume between Sussex and Lisbon.  (5/27/2013)
A most objectionable 3-page letter.  (5/10/2013)
Dear Greg; Love, Lisbon Town Board.  (4/27/2013)
Perhaps Pauline Haass is spinning in her grave.  (3/18/2013)
What a long strange trip it's been.  (2/13/2012)
Dueling news releases.  (10/7/2012)
Town of Lisbon wants deep discount in payment for library services.  (9/30/2012)
As the world of joint library agreements turns.  (8/22/2012)
The beat goes on.  (7/2/2012)
Joint library negotiations continue.  (5/13/2012)
Jane Stadler on Paying Taxes: "...it is something that you do because you're part of the community.  (11/26/2011)
Lisbon town chair not likely to get his way on Pauline Haass Library funding. (11/22/2011)
Lisbon Town chair advocates paying for library services on the cheap.  (11/22/2011)
The challenges of shared governance and funding.  (9/28/2011)
Consensus building for new joint library agreement.  (7/22/2011)
Sussex, Lisbon:  Local politics and library negotiations.  (5/28/2011)
Negotiation to continue after information-gathering process.  (10/8/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (10/4/2010)
Differences of opinion of library funding continue.  (9/18/2010)
Leaders of Village of Sussex, Town of Lisbon clash over funding for library. (8/26/2010)
Will annexation resolution interfere with negotiations over joint library agreement?  (8/4/2010)
Proposal to change library funding formula gets cool reception.  (6/7/2010)
Town of Lisbon Chairman proposes new funding formula for library.  (5/31/2010)

Sheboygan's Double Whammy, Explained

In this case: 
Decrease in equalized values + flat tax revenue = loss of 51 FTE employees in 8 years.

Executive Summary

No public comments made on 2014 city budget. (Sheboygan Press, 10/7/2013)

Related posts:
Decatur Illinois & the double whammy of falling home values and reduced tax revenue.  6/4/2013)
The Atlanta housing meltdown continues. (2/2/2012)
Housing Prices Continue to Fall in Major U.S. Cities. (1/25/2011)
On the basis of this trend, urban libraries will certainly be tightening their belts again next year.  (12/28/2010)
The property tax domino effect (Atlanta metro area). (12/27/2010)
National League of Cities research brief on America's cities.  (10/7/2010)

Get Me Rewrite: From the Right, Despair, Anger and Delusion

From the Right, Despair, Anger and Disillusion. (The New York Times, 10/17/2013)

Some quotes from the article.

Ya der hay!  Tea Party Congressman Listens To Constituent Who Wears Thomas Jefferson Costume Everywhere.  (The Onion, 10/14/2013)

Tea party wants to take America back -- to the 18th century. (Los Angeles Times, 10/13/2013)

Excerpt:   As bad as things are, we like to say, they have been worse and the nation somehow survived. 

But for the life of me, I cannot recall an occasion when a minority of elected representatives with such an absurdly partisan agenda was capable of stopping the government of the United States in its tracks.