A new monthly workshop offered by the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Shawano County will answer questions about how local government operates.
Jay Moynihan, UW-Extension community resource development educator, will facilitate the workshops that will examine town, village, county, city and school district governing bodies — what they are and what they can do.
“It’s open and free to everybody,” Moynihan said.
The first session will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday in Rooms A and B at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., Shawano.
“People don’t seem to understand the differences between local government and what they do,” said Moynihan, who acknowledged that government can be complex.
At the session Monday, Moynihan will discuss each governing body’s role and operations. For example, participants will learn where money for a particular department comes from, or what a village can do that a town can’t do. Basically, they will learn the structure of local government.
There won’t be a session in October, and the September workshop will be presented again in November and every other month after that. Beginning in December, and continuing every other month after, other government topics will be presented. One topic, for example, will be how property taxes are divided, or how federal and state government affect the local government.
The sessions will be facilitated by Moynihan or a guest.
The series is nonpolitical and informal. After an initial presentation, people can just discuss the topic or ask questions. Moynihan described it as Local Government 101, but it isn’t a class.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Moynihan, who has a law degree and taught American government at the college level.
Moynihan will also take the topic of local government on the road.
“I’m more than willing to do it anywhere in the county for any organization or club,” he said.
Moynihan also can be contacted about topics that people would like addressed. For more information, call the UW-Extension office at 715-526-6136 or send an e-mail to jay.moynihan@ces.uwex.edu.
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