From: "Barron County Historical Society" <museum1@chibardun.net> Subject: RE: Local Municipal Funding Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:30:34 -0500 Message-ID: <00e101d59000$2955db70$7c019250$@chibardun.net>
We receive approximately 25% ($38,000) of our annual budget from the county.
We have been told to expect less in 2021, because they are anticipating
budget cuts in all departments. The county administrator told the county
board of supervisors that the fair grounds and the museum are basically a
department, and were therefore subject to the cuts.
We run independently, as an incorporated nonprofit entity, but somewhere
along the line, things have gotten a little muddled. We are required to
send the county our meeting agendas and minutes, as they must be posted for
the public. We also have a representative from the county who sits on our
board. We receive other benefits from the county, as well. We are able to
buy our property insurance through them, which gives us a better rate than
we would pay independently. They plow our driveways in the winter. Many
years ago, we were able to borrow money from them for construction of a
building at a favorable rate. In addition, we are located on county land.
We have a 99 year lease for $1. We own the buildings and have been able to
build or move buildings in without consulting them (except where zoning
regulations apply).
The historical society asked and received land on which to start a museum in
the early 1960's. There was no official agreement until a lease was started
in the mid-1970's. I assume that is when this unofficial relationship
began. When they started subsidizing our budget, I'm not sure, but a former
treasure of the historical society gave the county false financial records
in order to receive more money from the county. When the other officers of
the historical society found out about it, they disclosed it to the county.
It was at that time that the county insisted on having one of their
supervisors sit on our board, which you can't blame them for.
Each August we petition the county to include us in the budget. They never
let us know whether they included us or not. I suppose it is on the county
website for anyone to look at. I usually just ask one of our board members,
as it seems like there are always 2 or 3 who also sit on the county board
(purely a coincidence). Then in January, I have to ask them to release it
to us.
I usually send the county administrator an annual update on our activities.
It's not required, but I want them to see that we are having an impact on
the communities we serve. I don't time it to our request, as I don't want
to have to justify what we receive, but I do want them to know that we are
relevant. We also invite the county supervisors to our volunteer picnic.
They usually don't come though. Just about every year, they ask me to come
to a board meeting and give a short report.
Two of the communities in our county also give a small stipend annually. We
also have to request that they include us in that. We receive about $1000
from each of them. One is through their tourism board and the other is
through their community United Way.
To get them to see you as a service organization, maybe you could ask to
address their boards at a meeting. Get something in the paper about your
organization. Do these things every year, so they really understand the
needs of the communities that you are meeting. And keep asking. Once you
finally get something, expect it annually. After a few years, ask for a
small increase. Keep doing that until you get it to where you need it. Good
luck.
Tammy Schutz
Barron County Historical Society
Pioneer Village Museum
715.458.2080
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
<localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu> On Behalf Of Julie Huebel
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2019 7:09 AM
To: Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc. <slahsinc@yahoo.com>;
localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Re: Local Municipal Funding
Pierce County, WI - We receive $12,000 per year from the county. We have no
official affiliation with the county government. We are associated with WHS.
We own our own property, the county has no involvement in that or decision
making. Sorry you haven't had luck getting county funding, I recommend to
keep trying.
Get <https://aka.ms/ghei36> Outlook for Android
_____
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
<mailto:localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu>
<localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
<mailto:localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu> > on behalf of
Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc. <slahsinc@yahoo.com
<mailto:slahsinc@yahoo.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 10:41:22 AM
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu <mailto:localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu>
<localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu <mailto:localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu> >
Subject: Local Municipal Funding
Our organization once again tried, without success, to acquire municipal
funding from the towns and village we serve. We are thought of as a charity,
and besides the possibility of a minor property tax rate hike (50 cents per
resident per year), the respective boards don't want to open the flood gates
for other such petitioners. I've expressed multiple times that we're not a
charity, but a community resource, much like the local parks, highway, and
fire departments.
My questions to all of you that do receive municipal funding support are
these: Is your historical society an extension of your municipality[ies]
government, ex. under your park & rec dept, or as a separate department?
Does it have to be to receive funding?
If you're not part of the local municipality you serve and receive funding,
how does the local government justify to the residents [and themselves] of
the community that they should do this?
If you receive funding, do you have to petition the municipalities each and
every year to be added to their annual budgets, or ?
I wonder how many Wisconsin historical society organizations receive local
government funding, and to what degree of the organization's annual budget?
If you receive government funding, can you also be an incorporated entity
under Wisconsin law, and an affiliate of the Wisconsin State Historical
Society?
Apart from the above, has anyone been successful in conducting online social
media fundraising events/programs, such as GoFundMe on Facebook or other?
Mike
Michael R. Reilly
Museum Director: Sussex-Lisbon Area Historium
President: Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society, Inc.
<http://www.kellerhistorymuseum.org/> www.slah.online
<http://www.slahs.org> www.slahs.org
P. O. Box 2, Sussex, Wisconsin 53089-0002