Five people have served as the clerk/treasurer for the Town of Worcester since 2020. In five years' time, all five have resigned. In their resignation letters, four of them, Scott Revak, Roberta Reese, Marcie Bogdanovic, and Alli Mathys, mentioned "harassment" or "stress," from an individual and his group, as one of their reasons for resignation.
The letters of resignation can be viewed on the Town of Worcester website at this link and this link.
In her resignation letter, Alli, the most recent clerk/treasurer, alleged she was subjected to threatening behavior from a few individuals and felt the behavior was driven by Facebook posts made by one individual.
There is a private Facebook group that was recently created that focuses on government in the Town of Worcester. A post in that group states that a new public Facebook group has now been created. One of the groups' administrators is Anthony Sleck, who was involved in a lawsuit with the Town of Worcester in years past, alleging that some of his open records requests were not being fulfilled. According to Anthony, there were originally eleven charges filed against the Town of Worcester. One charge was dropped after agreement by Anthony and the attorneys. Seven other charges were dropped by Anthony and his attorney before the judge could rule on them, because the Town of Worcester fulfilled the open records requests that pertained to those charges. Anthony won his lawsuit on the other three charges as The Town of Worcester was found guilty. (See related story at this link.) In regard to that lawsuit, Anthony asked and explained, "Why did the Town of Worcester get sued? Because they were denying Open Public Records, delaying the fulfillment of the requests, and charging ridiculous fees to deter citizens from getting information that is supposed to be given to anyone upon request. All this was proven in court, and after this was over, the town board members still are doing the same things they were taken to court for the first time. It's obvious that they didn't learn from their past mistakes....I am well within my rights as a concerned citizen to ask for this information."
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Regarding the Facebook group, Anthony told My Price County, "We do not make any accusations about anyone that can't be substantiated with documents received from the Worcester town clerks or from video recordings of the town meetings."
Chairman Jim Michler, however, feels the Facebook group, which he admits he has not seen because he is not on Facebook, has "negative allegations about the Town of Worcester." He continued, "Two people told me that they posted rebuttals to negative posts, that those rebuttals were immediately removed, and they were blocked." The Town of Worcester then started a blog on their website to "attempt to counteract the negativity of that Facebook page," according to Jim.
In regard to the resignation letters of the clerks, Anthony shared, "They all claim harassment. Doing your job or having to be reminded of what your job responsibilities are, isn't harassment. The town board members spent thousands of dollars on security cameras inside and outside the town hall and recycling center. Ask to view the recordings of the incidents they claim have happened to make the town clerks fear for their lives. I have video recordings of the town meetings to back up my side of the story. All they have is hearsay. If they feel threatened or harassed, why haven't there been any charges brought to anyone? The answer is simple. I'm well within my rights as a citizen to make these requests with expectations of them being fulfilled in a timely manner."
My Price County asked the town chairman, "Besides receiving a large number of open records requests, what 'harassment' have the town clerks experienced?" He said, "The volume of open records requests is not, and has not been, the primary problem. The primary problem is the verbal abuse and threats of lawsuits. Any one incident by itself is not a huge problem, but he never lets up. The continuous pressure is more than the last five town clerk/treasurers have been able to tolerate. His legal actions will be the subject of future blog posts."
My Price County mentioned to Anthony that some residents have expressed that they do not know why he needs all these records and wonder if he has found anything materially significant that the Town of Worcester is doing wrong. Anthony asserts, "Some things that I have found while searching through the documents that I have been allowed to receive range from time card fraud, lack of leadership by the town chairman, lack of knowledge by the town board members, and lack of work experience by the employees of the township (not being capable of performing the job duties correctly the first time). We can blame that on poor training, but what has the town board done to resolve that issue, besides constantly increasing their pay?"
The Town of Worcester provided a list of requests they have received from April 5, 2022 (when they started keeping a record of the requests) and January 27, 2025. This record includes all the requests they have received and not just Anthony's requests, as noted on the document. Click here to view the list.
As for his reasoning for requesting records, Anthony stated, "According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), every citizen has the right to make an Open Public Records (OPR) Request. They should be allowed to do so without interference from the town board members. It is the records' custodian's (town clerk's) job duty and responsibility to fulfill these requests as soon as practicable without delay. The DOJ also puts OPR's as a priority. These requests are supposed to be fulfilled without question."
The Town of Worcester agrees that any person can view or get a copy of a public record in the township. According to Chairman Jim Michler, "The requester does not need to provide a reason for requesting the record. The power to get records is not unlimited. The regular business of the town must continue." He added that some requests are quick and easy to fulfill, such as a current list of registered voters, but some requests take more time, such as road crew workers' time cards for a six-year period of time as the time cards are only on paper and not easily accessible on a computer.
Jim stated, "The situation is more difficult when a particular requester has a history of abusing and threatening the town clerk. Because of that abuse, the town worked with the town attorney to protect the town clerk. The town clerk now has the option of requiring that two town board members be present during requests to view or deliver records in person. Since the Town of Worcester has a three-member board, two members is a quorum. A board quorum requires a public meeting with at least 24 hours' advance public notice."
However, Anthony feels the town board members have "created obstacles and barriers to deter anyone from making such requests. They have created policies trying to limit when and how a citizen can have their requests fulfilled." He believes that all or most of the documents reside on computers given he says a former town chairman had the town's documents scanned into the computer system.
Chairman Michler said, "Before early 2022, he [Anthony] regularly disrupted town meetings. After a talk with Sheriff Schmidt, and actions from the meeting chair, those disruptions decreased." He added, "He is very good at verbally backing people into a corner, misquoting laws, quoting people out of context, then verbally hammering them. This is the root of the harassment mentioned in the letters of resignation. Because of that behavior, the Town worked with Attorney Bryce Schoenborn to develop a procedure for filling his Open Records requests. We require that two town board members be present whenever he is meeting with the town clerk. He has strongly objected to that requirement and has repeatedly stated that he should be allowed to talk to the town clerk one-on-one."
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The Town of Worcester mentioned a thread of e-mails between Anthony and Alli to determine a date they could meet to fulfill some of Anthony's requests. In the e-mails, Alli asked Anthony if he could meet on September 12, 2024. Anthony had a medical appointment that day and could not meet. Alli then suggested September 17, 2024. Jim stated that day would work for him unless a loan signing was going to get scheduled as that would take precedence. Anthony stated he could not meet on that day. Alli suggested October 2, 2024. Anthony replied that he did not like her suggesting a day for "all" to meet. He expressed that he and the clerk/treasurer should work out a day and time and the new procedure was a deterrent. If they could not work out a time, then Anthony requested that all his requests be fulfilled and he could stop by to pick up the information. Alli then asked if he could meet on October 14, 2024. Anthony replied that date did not work for him. Alli suggested November 19, 2024. Anthony replied that date and time did not work with his schedule. He stated the new policy was created on misinformation about him, and he would like the former policy to be used where he could schedule a date and time with the clerk and then if the board members wanted to come at that time, they could. He stated that the documents he wanted were sitting on the counter at the October monthly board meeting. Alli then asked if December 9, 2024 would work for Anthony or if he could suggest a date that would work for him. He replied that date did not work for him, and he wanted the original process to be in place. Alli asked him if December 17, 2024 would work. Anthony stated that date did not work for him, again expressing that he wanted the original policy to be used, because he stated the town clerk is the records' custodian, not the board members. Alli asked if January 6, 2025 would work for them to meet or if Anthony could suggest a date. Anthony stated that date and time would not work for him. He wanted to use the procedure where the clerk sends him three dates and times, and if one worked for him, he would select it, but if none worked for him, then he would send her back three dates and times until they found a meeting time that worked for both of them. He said the board could then be notified. Alli replied, asking if January 14, 2025 would work for Anthony. Anthony asked what records he would receive at that time if he rearranged his schedule, and Alli replied they would work on the 1-22 open records requests and get through as many as possible in the allotted hour. Anthony confirmed he could meet at 1 p.m. on January 14, 2025 and stated he appreciated the opportunity to address the matter and looked forward to a productive discussion on ensuring compliance and transparency fulfilling the town's obligations. However, Alli told the chairman that she was concerned about the meeting, not wanting her name drug through the mud on social media or having videos of herself at the meeting on Anthony's group page. She felt that, in the past, Anthony posted videos after the meeting was adjourned where she was talking to others about her personal life and engagement. Alli stated to Jim that she would have all the documents ready, but she did not want to be part of the meeting so she could avoid having her name and a video of herself on the Internet. Almost twenty-four hours before the meeting, Alli sent Anthony an e-mail stating that since she was resigning and felt there was ongoing harassment, she did not want to meet with Anthony. She stated the town board felt it was best to wait for a meeting until there was a new town clerk. She stated the town would reach out to Anthony once the clerk/treasurer position was filled to set up a new meeting date and time.
Anthony said the town board calls this situation "chaos," but he feels the chaos began after May of 2020. "It is true that I have made a number of requests over the past years. The Town of Worcester Board appointed a new member to the town board in May of 2020. This individual has done nothing but waste everyone's time and money by creating obstacles (policies) to slow down an already outlined procedure by the DOJ. This same individual is responsible for the spread of misinformation about my requests to try and destroy my reputation."
Anthony states he has video from a town meeting from the Summer of 2023. He said that two board members alleged "someone came into the Worcester Town Hall and started throwing things around the office, yelling at the town clerk, and plain harassing the town clerk. The town board members were discussing building a new office for the town clerk. This office would be made from bulletproof glass. I made a records request to view that video from all the town hall security cameras. Also, if something like this ever happened to anyone, don't you think there would have been a report filed with the sheriff's department and the district attorney? It's amazing how no such reports exist or were even reported to any authorities. Why do you think something like this was brought up in a town meeting? To try and damage my reputation even more with misinformation," Anthony said.
"Having individuals on the board who have no experience with road maintenance or operating this type of work, period, shouldn't be permitted. They are only legal liabilities to the township with inexperience and no people skills. They will say or do something that could be very costly to the residents and taxpayers of Worcester. Friends or not, they don't need to be running this township. It will only end up in bankruptcy with their frivolous spending habits and poor decision making."
He continued, "I can put all of this into perspective pretty easily. I am a concerned resident in Worcester. As a concerned resident, I attend as many town meetings as possible. I've asked the town chairman questions about accountability and how our tax money was being used. I video and audio record every meeting that I attend. This is my proof of what transpires at these town meetings. After that, I wasn't allowed to speak anymore. The only other avenue for getting this information is to submit Open Public Records Requests. The records' custodian (town clerk) is the only person accountable for fulfilling these requests. This is outlined by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, under job duties and responsibilities of the town clerk."
Anthony summarized what he expects from the town board. "I expect truth and transparency from the town board members, 100%, always." He added, "My reputation has been destroyed by the town board members of Worcester all because I'm a concerned resident and ask questions. Aren't they being paid to represent every person in the township equally? Ask yourself why Worcester Town Board is going out of their way by wasting time, money, and energy to prevent me from getting Open Public Records? What is the town board trying to hide from the public?"
Some residents have asked why Anthony has not applied for the town clerk/treasurer position. However, he has applied. According to the Town of Worcester, he has submitted various applications for different jobs from 2021 through 2023. He submitted an application for the town clerk/treasurer job in April of 2023, but he was not hired, and Alli Mathys started in the position in December of 2023. Chairman Michler stated that Anthony "contested the town's decision to not interview him" at one time. Anthony was interviewed for a recycling center position.
Jim added that Anthony's threats of lawsuits are not empty. The last time he sued the Town of Worcester, the chairman said it "cost the insurance company almost $100,000 in attorney fees."
As of our interview with Anthony, he is still waiting for his open records requests to be fulfilled.
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Price County Clerk Meredith Hueckman announced there will be a public hearing before the Price County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 9:05 a.m., though it is noted the time is approximate. The meeting will be held in Room 101 of the courthouse on Cherry Street in Phillips.
The hearing is regarding amending Chapter 473, entitled "Vehicles and Traffic," Article IV, All-Terrain Vehicles Routes, to include Section 473.15, Authorize the Operation of a State Highway Bridge.
Questions and comments are welcome at the hearing. According to Meredith, if you are unable to attend in person, "All persons interested in presenting evidence are welcome to participate via conference call. Written comments sent to the county clerk and comments from the public in attendance via conference call will be heard."
Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Reports were not received for January 1 - 12, 2025 as of the time of publication.
1-13-25: An Ogema woman reported license plates that she previously owned, but left on a car she traded in at a Wausau dealership in 2023, were being used, and she was receiving toll violation citations from Illinois.
1-14-25: A customer reportedly was physically fighting outside the grocery store in Park Falls with a loss prevention officer over a stolen item. No injuries were reported, the fighting stopped, and both people moved back into the store.
1-15-25: A Prentice woman reported a dispute with her neighbor. The caller said she was walking her dog and taking out laundry when her neighbor started screaming at her and using threatening behavior. The caller could not understand the woman given she was mumbling.
1-16-25: A Park Falls woman was supposed to meet her boyfriend and friends for dinner, but when he did not respond to her texts or phone calls, she checked on him, and she found him deceased. He was lying face down with a gun next to him. She did not believe he had a history of depression or suicide attempts, but he did have a history of heart problems. The police report does not mention how the man ultimately died.
1-18-25: A Prentice man reported an explosion sound near enough to his residence that it shook the windows.
1-19-25: A Phillips man reported an abandoned Jeep Cherokee was at the East Solberg Lake boat landing. Given the amount of snow on the vehicle and no snow under the vehicle, he felt it had been there for at least a week.
1-22-25: A Phillips man reported that his ex-girlfriend tried to shoot herself. The man got the firearm away from the woman but not before it discharged into the wall.
1-22-25: An out-of-town woman stated she crashed her vehicle in the Township of Flambeau and, though not injured, was trapped inside the vehicle.
1-22-25: The Price County Highway Department reported one of their plow trucks was hit near an intersection in Fifield. There were no injuries.
1-23-25: A Prentice woman reported having approximately $1,400 stolen from three of her financial accounts during the past week. She thought her phone must have gotten hacked. She stated her bank told her someone tried to write a check to a man, but the check did not have the woman's signature, and the woman was unsure if the man was involved in the loss of money.
1-25-25: A man reported people and dogs trespassing on his 40 acres of property, according to the camera footage that he viewed.
1-25-25: A semi driver reported a vehicle on the side of the road with flashers on and a woman walking down the highway.
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PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
1-6-25 On Avon Avenue, police received a complaint from an adult male regarding numerous piles of junk that were sitting in the back yard of a residence next to his. An officer responded and took photographs of the items, which were old play vehicles, garbage bags, a mattress, wood, tires, and other scrap. An officer delivered an "Order of Compliance" to the owner and gave the owner 30 days for the property to be put into compliance.
1-6-25: Advised of a disorderly incident that occurred at the Phillips Middle School. The victim and suspect were spoken to. An officer is investigating the incident.
1-7-25: Received information from a local school that an adult, who was prohibited from being inside the school building, had been inside the school building the previous evening. The school requested the adult be cited. An officer issued a citation to the adult for trespassing.
1-7-25: Notified by the school that two students were suspected of consuming a controlled substance at school. An officer and school officials investigated the incident. As a result of the investigation, the two students were suspended from school; one of the students received a citation for possession of a controlled substance and the other student was referred to the Price County Human Services Department for possession of a controlled substance.
1-7-25: Responded to two dogs that were fighting on a city street. The owner of one of the dogs told the officer that his dog ran out of the vehicle when he opened the door and attacked another dog who was being walked by his owner. Both dogs appeared to be fine. The owner of the dog that was attacked did not wish anything to be done and thanked the officers. The officer spoke to the owners of the dogs to make sure they were both current on vaccinations and that they were registered through Price County.
1-9-25: Received a report of a vehicle striking a private fence along South Lake Avenue. An officer arrived and documented the scene. The caller reported they had noticed the damage to the fence a day ago and believed it may have been struck two days ago. Investigation pending.
1-14-25: Spoke to a citizen at the front door of the Phillips Police Department. The citizen was irate and began swearing at the officer. The officer called for another officer to help remove the citizen as the citizen would not leave and was blocking the door. The citizen was later arrested by the Price County Sheriff's Department for disorderly conduct.
1-16-25: Assisted the Central Price County Ambulance Service with an adult male who had a cart of steel fall onto him trapping him on the ground. Coworkers were able to remove the steel. An officer arrived and assisted with loading the patient into the ambulance. The ambulance met the Medivac helicopter at the Price County Airport for transport.
1-17-25: Made contact with a City of Phillips resident at their home regarding baiting of
deer in the city limits. An officer advised the resident that they cannot bait deer in the city limits. The resident apologized and said they would stop.
1-19-25: Advised by Price County Dispatch that a residential structure fire had occurred. An officer responded and spoke with Price County Emergency Management and the owner of the residence.
1-26-25: Assisted Price County Sheriff's Department with an intoxicated male who went to the Sheriff's Office to report that he had went in the ditch with his vehicle. One adult male was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
1-28-25: Received a complaint from a resident on Flambeau Avenue who advised her neighbor had a company cut part of a tree that was on the property line and now the company wants her to pay for the removal of her half of the tree. The woman wanted it on record in case they damaged any of her property.
1-30-25: Observed a camper motor home parked at a residence on Argyle Avenue with no license plates attached to it. The motor home has been sitting in the driveway for over five months and is in violation of the city’s Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance. The owner was given 7 days to register, remove, or place into an enclosed garage or be issued an ordinance citation.
1-31-25: Police were called to a local establishment for an adult male who was intoxicated and talking strangely. An officer arrived and identified the man who was on probation and on a no drink order. The officer contacted probation and parole, who wanted the subject taken into custody and held at the Price County Jail, which is what occurred.
1-31-25: Provided an escort through the city for the Phillips High School dance team who made it to state.
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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
1-1-25: An officer responded to assist a Price County deputy on a traffic stop where the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the suspect vehicle. One male suspect fled the location of the traffic stop on foot. One female and one male juvenile were detained. Ultimately, after a subsequent search for the male who fled the stop, the male was taken into custody.
1-2-25: An officer assisted a deputy with taking one male into custody. He had a warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without issue.
1-6-25: Officers responded for the report of a male seeing subjects in his apartment. Officers found the male was detoxing from the consumption of alcohol and was hallucinating. A safety plan was set up with Price County Human Services.
1-9-25: A vehicle struck a door opening at the car wash due to the amount of ice outside the door. A report was made for record as the matter was deemed civil.
1-10-25: A person reported a parent suspected of giving tattoos to her children and other juveniles.
1-13-25: The Chequamegon High School principal requested an officer come to the school to watch video of an altercation between two students. The parent did not wish to pursue charges.
1-14-25: There was a report of a property damage crash in the high school parking lot.
1-14-25: A loss prevention officer attempted to stop a male adult who was shoplifting. The suspect became resistive, and a physical altercation occurred. There were no injuries.
1-16-25: Report of a vehicle in the ditch near the intersection of Highway 13 and 9th Street North. The vehicle was not damaged.
1-18-25: Report of a disturbance where the suspect committed battery to the victim. The victim did not want to press charges. Parties were separated for the night.
1-19-25: Assisted the sheriff’s office with a domestic abuse incident on Willow Street. The suspect was located in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
1-21-25: An officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle with expired registration. The officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. Officers located marijuana products and drug paraphernalia on suspects and inside suspect vehicle. One male was arrested for OWI - drug-impaired driving. Passenger cited.
1-22-25: Report of a missing vehicle.
1-22-25: Requested by the sheriff’s office to respond to a one-vehicle rollover crash. No other deputies were available due to a shooting incident in the City of Phillips. (See Price County Sheriff’s Office report on 1-22-25 for more details.)
1-23-25: Report of dogs defecating on another's property.
1-24-25: Responded to a residence with a man stating he heard someone crawling in his ceiling. One male was placed in protective custody per a Chapter 51 process. The male was transported to a facility without issue.
1-25-25: A concerned citizen stopped at the police department to inform officers of a vehicle in the ditch that struck a tree on Tower Road north of Division Street.
1-25-25: An officer was dispatched out of the city for an active domestic situation. The officer was the first to arrive on the scene and separated the parties involved while waiting for deputies to arrive. The female subject was taken into custody for domestic-related charges. The male subject was taken into custody for an active warrant he had.
1-25-25: An officer responded to a residence in Price County for the report of a snowmobile which struck a residence. The officer arrived on scene and assisted EMS. The operator of the snowmobile was ultimately life-flighted from the Park Falls Airport. An officer further assisted a Price County sheriff's deputy with his investigation.
1-29-25: Officers responded a residence where a male suspect had been peering into the residence's windows the night prior.
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By: Davette Lynne Hrabak, CPA, CFE, CBM, ATA, ATP, ABA, ECS, CGMA, https://www.DavetteLynneHrabak.com “When it comes to taxes, save the lion’s share; enter between the lions to get this special care.”
There are a number of credits and deductions available to taxpayers. The following four sections, (with each heading in bold for ease of reference), focus on tax credits, including the information you should bring to your tax preparer, the Earned Income Credit (sometimes available even if there are no qualifying children), the Homestead Credit, and a summary of many of the credits that are available.
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WHEN IN DOUBT, BRING IT IN AND BRING IT UP
There are so many credits and deductions available to taxpayers; many which individual or business taxpayers may not be aware of. Each person’s individual tax situation is unique. An individual that is lower income, someone who has kids, a person who owns and runs a business or a rental, or someone who has a combination of factors on their returns each have unique needs and unique deductions and credits.
It is virtually impossible for an individual to know what all is deductible and what is not on their own. Therefore, when you bring your items in to be prepared, do not hesitate to talk to your CPA. Mention any questions that you have and discuss what all has gone on in your year financially. Many times these conversations open a person up to finding out that they have more deductions and credits available to them than they thought. Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question.
Sometimes these helpful conversations can even lead to planning for the future. For example, maybe you have an item that would have been deductible had you taken certain steps in documenting it. The discussion would lead to letting you know what you can do for the following year to make next year’s taxes more bearable.
If you think you have an item that could be deductible, bring it up and ask about it. The worst thing that could happen in bringing it up is that you find out it is not deductible. The best thing is that you find out it is deductible or it sparks additional questions that could lead to something else that may help you in your own individual tax situation.
Bring your prior year return in with you so it can be looked over. Having a thought-provoking discussion and the prior year return available can go far in making sure things have been done the way that they should have been, and, if an issue is found, the best possible course of action can be discussed.
In my practice, I have found new clients coming in that did not realize the deductions and credits that they have missed in prior years’ returns. Many were surprised that some of them can still be claimed without amending a return, (for example, a missed Homestead Credit in a prior year), or via amending a return if needed for some items that can only be corrected in that manner.
Remember, if you have already filed but realize that you could have had a credit or deduction that you missed, it is not too late; you can always amend your return. If you need more information or believe you could qualify for them, I would be happy to give you a free quote on the preparation of your return.
When the right tax and financial advice is essential, talk to someone with an unmatched level of knowledge, experience, and education. A CPA understands the business of taxes and finance and can provide trusted advice and services during the tax season and throughout the calendar year.
For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638. Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.
THE 2024 TAX YEAR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT: IN SOME CASES, EVEN IF THERE ARE NO QUALIFYING CHILDREN INCREASED CREDIT AMOUNTS FOR 2024
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a credit that is available to many taxpayers. It is based on a person’s income and the number of qualifying children that they have. However, many people do not realize that if a taxpayer’s income level falls within certain parameters, then a person whom does not have any qualifying children can qualify for the credit if all criteria are met.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a complicated credit that has many rules and adjustments to a taxpayer’s income but it is an often used credit and provides a refund to many people, even in cases where the taxpayer has not had any federal or state withholding taken out of their pay. It is part of a group of credits which are called refundable credits, which basically means that a taxpayer can get back more than what they had withheld from their paychecks.
The maximum Earned Income Credit amounts available to taxpayers are dependent on whether or not the taxpayer has children, and, if they have children, the number of children they have.
If a taxpayer has no children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $632.
If a taxpayer has one child, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $4,213.
If a taxpayer has two children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $6,960.
If a taxpayer has more than two children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $7,830.
Wisconsin has a Wisconsin Earned Income Credit which provides additional amounts based on individual taxpayer’s facts and circumstances.
For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638. Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.
COULD YOU BE OVER-LOOKING THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT?
Wisconsin has a credit that is known as the Homestead Credit. If you own a home or rent you may be eligible to obtain a refund even if you are not otherwise required to file a tax return.
Below is a basic summary of the qualifications for a taxpayer to be eligible for the Wisconsin Homestead Credit. If you fall into the basic summary, then it would be in your best interest to look further into the credit to ensure you qualify for it, as, if you do, it is a very rewarding credit.
The Wisconsin Homestead Credit basic qualifications are as follows:
The property that you occupied and owned or rented, meaning your home, apartment, or other dwelling, must be subject to Wisconsin property taxes in 2024. However, there is an exception to this if the property is owned by a municipal housing authority. If the property is owned by a municipal housing authority, it would not be considered tax-exempt for the Homestead Credit if the authority makes payments to a town or city in which it is located. If you are considering the Homestead Credit, and if you live in a place that would be considered public housing, you should check with the management of the facility to see if the property would qualify for the Homestead Credit.
You must be a legal resident of Wisconsin for the entire 2024 year.
By December 31, 2024 you must be 18 years of age or older.
Your household income, based on a formula used for the credit, must be less than $24,680 for 2024.
You must meet one of the following conditions: A. During 2024, you or your spouse, if you were married, and live in the same household, must have positive earned income during the year. B. You or your spouse, if you are married, and live in the same household are disabled. C. You or your spouse, if you are married, are at least 62 years of age or older by the end of 2024.
You cannot be claimed as a dependent for the year on someone else’s federal tax return. However, there is an exception to this if you were 62 years of age or more on December 31, 2024.
You and your spouse, if married, will not claim the Farmland Preservation Credit for 2024 or the Veterans and Surviving Spouse’s Property Tax Credit based on your 2024 property taxes.
At the time of filing, you cannot live in a nursing home and receive Title XIX medical assistance.
You cannot file a claim on behalf of a person after his or her death.
You need to fully understand the definition of household for the Homestead Credit, as only one claim can be filed per their definition of household.
If you received Wisconsin Works (W2) payments of any amount or county relief payments, you will need to do a special calculation.
The Homestead Credit is a very complicated credit which has a lot of modifications to the taxpayer’s income; however, it is also a credit that is very helpful to Wisconsin residents and one that is overlooked by many taxpayers who mistakenly think that just because they are not required to file a return, that they then should not file one. The above listed qualifications are not all inclusive; please consult with a tax adviser for other qualifications required.
For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638. Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.
ARE YOU GETTING ALL THE CREDITS YOU QUALIFY FOR? A SUMMARY OF MOST TAX CREDITS FOR 2024
There are a variety of credits available for the 2024 tax year. Of course, each has its own criteria and limitations. However, if you qualify for any of them, it will make quite a difference on your tax return. The following is a list of a number of the credits available and a brief summary of what they encompass.
Additional Child Credit: It is for taxpayers who do not claim the full $2,000 tax credit for each child due to circumstances on their returns and who have one or more qualifying children and over $2,500 of earned income, or have three or more children that are qualifying.
Adoption Expense: For a child who is adopted legally who is under age 18 or for the adoption of a person that is incapacitated or special needs (regardless of age). However, this credit has a phase out for Modified Adjusted Gross Income from $252,150 to 292150.
Child and Dependent Care Credit: Expenses for care of dependent(s) who are under the age of 13 or incapacitated. This credit is provided to assist a taxpayer to work or look for work.
Child Credit: If a taxpayer has a qualifying child under the age of 17. Phase-out ranges apply due to Adjusted Gross Income levels.
Earned Income: Taxpayers with or without qualifying children who meet various income and other qualifications.
Education, American Opportunity: For qualified higher education expenses for up to four years of qualified higher education.
Education, Lifetime Learning: For qualified post-secondary education and other courses that are to acquire or improve job skills.
Elderly or Disabled: Low income taxpayers age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled.
Energy Efficient Home Improvement: Taxpayers who are homeowners and who decided to install certain energy saving improvements. Some examples of the improvements are insulation, windows, and doors. If a homeowner taxpayer has an energy audit performed, the cost of the energy audit also qualifies.
Federal Tax Paid on Fuels: Fuels which are used on a farm for farming purposes or fuels for off-highway business use and other qualified uses.
Foreign Tax: Income taxes that are paid to a foreign country or a U.S. possession on income that is subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Minimum Tax: If you are subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), this is a credit allowed against regular tax for part of the AMT paid and it is attributable to deferral items.
Mortgage Interest: A portion of interest expense paid by home buyers who have been issued a government mortgage credit certificate.
Other Dependents: A credit allowed for qualifying dependents that are not qualifying children.
Premium Assistance: This is for certain taxpayers who enroll or whose family member enrolls in a qualified health plan, which needs to be one that is offered in the Marketplace, meaning the health insurance exchange.
Previously-owned Clean Vehicle Credit: This credit is for certain used vehicles that are purchased by a taxpayer, meaning that the original use of the vehicle must have started with a person that is not the current owner of the vehicle and the vehicle must meet the requirements for the Clean Vehicle Credit that is for new vehicles. This credit is subject to ranges on modified adjusted gross income.
Residential Clean Energy: This credit is for property that is installed on a taxpayer’s residence for items such as qualified solar electric, qualified solar water heating property, qualified small wind energy, or a qualified geothermal heat pump, fuel cell, and battery storage technology.
Retirement Saver’s: This is for people who make retirement plan contributions based on income level. This credit is in the amount of 10 to 50 percent of contributions, within various phase-out ranges.
For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638. Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips. Read More
The City of Park Falls recently renewed their garbage and refuse collection contract.
The company has increased the amount they charge the city for this service and that increase will be reflected on upcoming water utility bills, which was effective on January 1, 2025. The quarterly rate was $45 and is now $54.96.
At 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2025, Phillips Fire responded to a structure fire at 800 Ash Street. The property has been owned by John and Teresa Harrington since September 10, 2013.
According to Phillips Fire Chief Dave Lontcoski, "Phillips Fire responded with two engines, brush/command truck, heavy rescue, and nine firefighters."
The chief requested a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) at Level 1, which is the first level of assistance requested when a local department can't handle an emergency on its own. The MABAS brought help from the Fifield, Prentice, and Catawba Fire Departments. Fifield responded with an engine, command vehicle, and nine firefighters. Catawba responded with an engine and six firefighters. Prentice responded with their equipment van and six firefighters.
Thirty firefighters fought the blaze in temperatures that reached 25 degrees below zero with wind chills of 40 degrees below zero. The chief added, "It made firefighting very difficult with frozen hoses and lots of ice."
Approximately 115,000 gallons of water were used.
The Phillips Fire Department was back in service at 11:15 a.m.
Firefighters had to return to the scene for rekindles on Sunday afternoon and the morning of January 20th.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time and is under investigation.
My Price County does not have a photo of this home, but it can be viewed on Zillow.
At 12:16 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2025, the Ashland-Bayfield Emergency Communication Center received a call. A person reported that their friend, a 20-year old man from Ashland, Wisconsin, named Harlow Pruess, was late joining them. They were to meet on the Chequamegon Bay for ice fishing. The missing person was reported to be on a snowmobile, and they had not heard from him since 9:03 p.m. on January 18, 2025.
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ashland Fire Department, Ashland Police Department, and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office responded and began searching for the man.
At approximately 10 a.m. on January 19, 2025, Harlow was found, deceased, in open water.
The incident is currently being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office.
Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
(Article continues after promotional image) Davette Lynne Hrabak, CPA, located at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips, specializes in tax return preparation, business start-up services, consulting, bookkeeping, payroll, and all your accounting needs. Call 715-339-6638 or visit Davette's website. Follow her Facebook page.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
11-30-2024: A Phillips man reported he placed an order from Micro Bio Male Enhancement. He stated he ordered one bottle for $59, but when he looked at his bank statement, the company was charging him $299. He called the company but they stated they were sending him several bottles. The man asked that the transaction be cancelled and refunded as he only wanted one bottle, but the company refused to cancel and refund the money.
12-2-2024: A Park Falls woman stated she slammed on her brakes in an attempt not to hit a dog, but she did hit the dog. She got out to check on the dog, and the dog appeared uninjured, so she told the owner that she should keep the dog on a leash. The caller stated the owner of the dog became upset and closed the vehicle's door on the woman's left leg, leaving a mark. However, the woman did not need an ambulance.
12-4-2024: A Prentice woman reported a girl was being sexually assaulted while at her father's residence, which she believed to be in another county. The woman stated she called Child Protective Services but had not received a call back.
12-4-2024: A Park Falls man stated his neighbor had a wind chime that sounded as loud as church bells, and he believed it was modified to go off more often. He stated this was disturbing his dog, child, and himself.
12-6-2024: A Brantwood man stated an intoxicated male would not leave his house, even though he asked him to do so numerous times. The man became verbally abusive to the homeowner.
12-6-2024: A New Jersey man asked for a welfare check because their company has a text option for customers during after hours, and the system received two messages. Both came from his customer's phone and one stated, "He's dead," and the other stated, "I killed [the man's first name]." Officers responded to the residence.
12-7-2024: A Pennsylvania man reported his fiance's mother was watching his dog while he was in jail in another state, and she would not give the dog back.
12-8-2024: A Phillips man reported a woman was in the ditch. He offered help but she refused help. The woman was shoveling snow with an ice scraper. A field sobriety test was conducted.
12-8-2024: A Fifield man stated a driver blew a tire, which caused the driver to jump the culvert and get into his yard. The man was not injured, but there was damage to a road sign and the homeowner's property.
The police reports for the remainder of December 2024 were not received from the Price County Sheriff's Office at the time of publication on 1-11-2025.
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The Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has lots of activities and events planned for this month. Visit the library's website for more information.
PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
12-2-2024: Received a complaint that a set of Waste Management garbage cans were stolen from a residence. An officer spoke with the caretaker of the residence and is investigating the incident.
12-3-2024: Advised of a male subject who was lying on the ground, and when he got up, he seemed unsteady. An officer checked the welfare of the subject and was advised he was not feeling well. The subject stated he would be making a medical appointment if he didn't feel better.
12-5-2024: Received a report of a scam from an elderly lady. The woman stated that her computer gave her a message to contact Microsoft or her computer would be frozen. She stated that the person she talked to was suspicious and did not want her to talk to anyone else about the matter. The woman stated she did not give any personal information and contacted her bank to remove the online banking from her computer.
12-6-2024: The Public Works Department towed a vehicle that was parked downtown as the department was removing snow. The vehicle was towed to the city impound lot.
12-6-2024: Assisted the Price County Sheriff's Office with the serving of two search warrants outside of the City of Phillips. An adult male and an adult female were arrested for possession of illicit drugs.
12-7-2024: Observed a male individual stumbling into traffic as he was highly intoxicated. The male individual was transported to his residence.
12-8-2024: Assisted the Price County Sheriff's Office with an adult male who wished to have an adult female removed from their residence on Old 13 Road. The adult female left the residence.
12-11-2024: Contacted by Price County Dispatch about the odor of marijuana. Phillips Police investigated and located the odor. Citations will be issued.
12-16-2024: Advised of an incident that occurred several weeks ago between two juvenile subjects. The two subjects were reported to have sent inappropriate images to each other. The incident will be investigated further.
The police reports for the remainder of December 2024 (except for a few minor reports on the last few days) were not received from the Phillips Police Department at the time of publication on 1-11-2025.
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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
12-4-2024: An officer spoke with a manager at a convenience store about an employee who was stealing from the business.
12-5-2024: Report of an individual pushing snow into the yard of another individual residence.
12-6-2024: Report for record regarding a subject receiving a threat via text message.
12-11-2024: An officer performed a welfare check at a store. The store's van was running in the alleyway overnight. The store was secure when the officer checked. The owner was contacted and it was learned the driver forgot about the van overnight and would be coming to town to shut it off.
12-12-2024: Received a report of a dog left outside for approximately three hours in the -12 degree temperature.
12-14-2024: An officer responded to an ambulance assist call of an intoxicated female. The female was transported to the medical center. The officer was called back to the hospital as the patient was causing issues. The officer stood by until a family member came to pick up the patient.
12-14-2024: Received a report of a possible fire. The caller was observed to be very "out of touch" with reality and tampering with electrical in the apartment complex. Landlord were notified of observations.
12-15-2024: An officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle. One male suspect was cited for numerous vehicle violations. A criminal charge of operating without a valid license (2nd within 3 years) was to be referred to the Price County DA.
12-23-2024: Received a report of inappropriate physical contact between two students at school.
12-24-2024: An officer was requested to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle following too closely to a deputy's squad. The officer observed the suspect vehicle almost rear end the deputy's vehicle. Upon the traffic stop, the suspect vehicle fled to evade law enforcement. Officers pursued and apprehended the intoxicated male suspect.
12-28-2024: An officer assisted a Price County deputy on a traffic stop. The officer observed controlled substance packaging in the vehicle. Upon a vehicle search, marijuana products were located.
12-28-2024: There was an unattended indoor death investigation. The death appears to be of natural causes.
Bumble Bee Rentals offers modern residential and commercial rentals of storefronts, apartments, and homes, plus rentals of tables & chairs for parties and other events. Visit Bumble Bee Rental's website to view their properties or call 715-339-3418.
The State of Wisconsin Department of Administration is projecting a population decline in Price County, but duplexes and fourplexes, in the amount of 60 total units, are coming to Park Falls with the project set to begin in May or June 2025.
According to Mayor Tara Tervort, the city secured nearly 20 acres of land for this development, which is off of Tower Road and within the city limits.
Photo Credit: City of Park Falls
In the spring of 2024, a development company was awarded $1.4 million in low income housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to be used for this development. The developer is seeking additional financial backing and is also working with the city to complete a development agreement and get the needed permits.
Mayor Tervort feels there is a significant housing need in the Park Falls area stating she spoke with many business owners and concerned community members who felt housing was needed.
In a recent interview with Phillips Alderman Richard Heitkemper, he stated that the City of Phillips and City of Park Falls recently had a joint study conducted that showed those two cities need more working class housing as there is enough low income housing in the area.
Recent numbers released by the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration show a projected decline of 279,000 people over the next 25 years across Wisconsin with only 13 of the 72 counties showing a population increase. Dane County (38.8%), Trempealeau County (33.9%), Eau Claire County (12.2%), Brown County (11.5%) and St. Croix County (10.1%) are the top five counties that will see a double digit percentage increase. However, 59 counties, significantly those in the northern portion of the state, are projected to decrease partly due to the aging population, less children being born, less young people moving in, and the workforce challenge. Price County is #6 on the list of counties in Wisconsin that are expected to see a large decline, losing as much as 24.9% of the population or 3,504 people.
PRICE COUNTY POPULATION
2020 Actual: 14,054
2030 Projection: 13,135
2040 Projection: 11,880
2050 Projection: 10,550
The past 25 years may be a good indicator of the next 25 years in Price County. Most graduating classes have become about 40% to 50% smaller in that time period even with investments being made in some of the schools to try to attract more families to move to the area.
These projections could motivate community leaders to seek ways to prevent this decrease and attract more people to the area.
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These students distinguished themselves as being "respectful."
OCTOBER 2024
Front Row, Left to Right:
Macy Patterson, Regan Warshall, Peyton Derr, Cashlyn Phelps, Emery Volk, Lexa Medaris, Madelynn Larson, and Kendall Davis
Back Row, Left to Right:
Diana Skawninski (State Farm Insurance), Harper Patterson, Scarlett Struck, Brayden Hawn, Hadley Bay, Adeline Branch, and Riley Belcher.
These students distinguished themselves as being "responsible."
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Park Village offers affordable, active living in a park-like setting for those 55+ and disabled persons in Park Falls. Rent is based on 30% Adjusted Gross Income. Small pets under 30 pounds are welcome. Contact Park Village at 715-762-4747.
NOVEMBER 2024
Front Row, Left to Right:
Lila Hammond, Blake Brinegar, and Tyler Treviranus
Middle Row, Left to Right:
Dana Faye Sohl, Hank Hammond, Jack Carlson, Salomon Larios, and Kaydin Dahlgren
Back Row, Left to Right:
Paityn Davis, Isaac Kjetland, Rayden Oscar, Aaliyah Green, and Colton Bruun
These students distinguished themselves as being "safe."
DECEMBER 2024
Front Row, Left to Right:
Henry Sharp, Bennet Wagner, and Mackenzie Miesbauer
Middle Row, Left to Right:
Namine Stewart, Faith Velarde, Daxon Singer, Kiki Rodriguez, and Zayda Dannelley
Back Row, Left to Right:
Rose Jim, Rocky Bruehling, Elias Wilson, Bryson Seller, Mackenzie Knoop, and Diesel Oswald.
These students distinguished themselves by having "gratitude."
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