The Civics Academy/KYLG Series Archives

The Civics Academy Archives (2025-2026)

The Affordable City
Shane Phillips, Author of The Affordable City
View Shane Phillips’ Presentation
View Shane Phillips’ Presentation Slides

Rock County Report
John Light, Rock County Administrator
View John Light’s Presentation

Public Safety Report
Schonella Stewart, City of Beloit Chief of Police
View Chief Stewart’s Presentation

SDB DataTool Update
Jason Stein, WPF Director, and Sara Shaw, WPF Deputy Director of Research
View Wisconsin Policy Forum’s Presentation Slides
View Wisconsin Policy Forum’s Presentation
Explore the SDB DataTool

School District of Beloit Update
Wayne Anderson, Interim Superintendent of the School District of Beloit
View Wayne Anderson’s Presentation

Early Learning: Building Brains, Building Community
Jessica Austin, Director of Early Brain Development at Stateline Community Foundation, and Nick Dimassis, Director of Beloit Public Library
View Quint Studer’s Introduction
View the Presentation Slides
View the Recorded Presentation
View the Discovery PLAYce 50% Design Walkthrough

Public Finance Part: City of Beloit budget, expenditures, and revenues
Eric Miller, City of Beloit Finance & Administrative Services Director
View Eric Miller’s Slides
View Eric Miller’s Presentation

The Civics Academy Archives (2024-2025)

City of Beloit, strategic plan, and opportunities and challenges
Jerry Gabrielatos, City of Beloit City Manager
View Jerry Gabrielatos’ Slides
View Jerry Gabrielatos’ Presentation

Public Finance Part 1: Public finance, the property tax bill, and understanding reevaluation
Eric Miller, City of Beloit Finance & Administrative Services Director, and Lauri Maldonis, City of Beloit Property Appraiser
View Eric Miller and Lauri Maldonis’ Slides
View Eric Miller and Lauri Maldonis’ Presentation

Understanding School District Report Cards Panel Discussion: Changes in How the State Evaluates the Effectiveness of Wisconsin’s Schools:
Colleston Morgan, Jr., City Forward Collective Executive Director, and Alan Borsuk, Marquette University Senior Fellow in Law and Public Policy
View the Slides
View the Panel Discussion

Public Finance Part 2: City of Beloit, Expenditures, and Revenues
Eric Miller, City of Beloit Finance & Administrative Services Director
View Eric Miller’s Slides
View Eric Miller’s Presentation

Unveiling of the School District of Beloit DataTool
Jason Stein, Wisconsin Policy Forum President, and Sara Shaw, Wisconsin Policy Forum Deputy Research Director
View Jason and Sara’s Presentation Slides
View Jason and Sara’s Presentation
Check out the SDB DataTool

K-12 Public Education Funding in the State of Wisconsin
Brad Boll, School District of Beloit Turner Director of Business Services
View Brad Boll’s Slides
View Brad Boll’s Presentation

How Changing Demographics Impact Wisconsin’s Economy
Dale Knapp, Forward Analytics Director, and Drew Pennington, City of Beloit Economic Development Director
View Dale Knapp’s Slides
View Drew Pennington’s Slides
View Dale and Drew’s Presentation

Public Safety
Andre Sayles, City of Beloit Police Chief
View Andre Sayles’ Slides
View Chief Sayles’ Presentation 

Know Your Local Government Archives (2023-2024)

City of Beloit Taxes: Eric Miller, Finance and Administrative Services Director
View Eric Miller’s recorded presentation
View Eric Miller’s presentation slides

Blackhawk Technical College Taxes: Jim Nemeth, Vice President for Finance and Operations
View Jim Nemeth’s recorded presentation
View Jim Nemeth’s presentation slides

Rock County Taxes: Sherry Oja, Finance Director
View Sherry Oja’s recorded presentation
View Sherry Oja’s presentation slides

An Overview of State School Funding: Jason Stein, Wisconsin Policy Forum
View Jason Stein’s recorded presentation
View Jason Stein’s presentation slides

School District of Beloit Taxes: Robert Chady, Executive Director of Business Services
View Robert Chady’s recorded presentation
View Robert Chady’s presentation slides

School District of Beloit Turner Taxes: Brad Boll, Director of Business Services
View Brad Boll’s recorded presentation
View Brad Boll’s presentation slides

Know Your Local Government Archives (2022-2023)

City of Beloit Taxes: Eric Miller, Finance and Administrative Services Director
View Eric Miller’s presentation slides
View Eric Miller’s recorded presentation

Blackhawk Technical College Taxes: Renea Ranguette, Vice President for Finance and Operations
View Renea Ranguette’s presentation slides

Rock County Taxes: Sherry Oja, Finance Director
View Sherry Oja’s presentation slides
View Sherry Oja’s recorded presentation

School District of Beloit Taxes: Marc Duff, Interim Finance Director
View Marc Duff’s presentation slides
View Marc Duff’s recorded presentation

School District of Beloit Turner Taxes: Brad Boll, Director of Business Services
View Brad Boll’s presentation slides
View Brad Boll’s supplementary handouts
View Brad Boll’s recorded presentation (Part 1)
View Brad Boll’s recorded presentation (Part 2)

Why Should You “Know Your Local Government”?

Know Your Local Government: Property Taxes Informational Document
Hear why it’s important to Know Your Local Government

Local government affects your day-to-day life and quality of life.
Decisions by the school board, for example, impact the quality of education that your child receives. Decisions by the city have ramifications for policing and public safety, the state of the roads and intersections, and the quality of neighborhood parks.

It is easiest to affect change at the local level.
As a resident, you can meet with and make an appeal to your elected officials or provide feedback on an issue being discussed at a city council meeting. In small cities and towns, it can be easier to have your voice heard.

Local government decisions impact your pocketbook.
If you’re a property owner, you pay for local government through your property tax bill. Of course, local governments also collect revenue from residents through fees, utility bills, etc.