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Dear Wisconsinites -
School is back in session and the trees are starting to turn colors - fall is here! It has been a productive summer in the Office of the State Treasurer, and our quarterly newsletter outlines our progress towards ensuring an equitable economic recovery for all of Wisconsin’s working families. Recently, our office has:
- Worked to secure $92.7 million for homeowner assistance and partnered with Governor Evers’ Office to develop the WI Help for Homeowners program.
- Highlighted in La Crosse our record-breaking $39 million Common School Fund distribution and the impact these funds have on students statewide
- Joined more than 100 investors with assets totaling over $1.6 trillion to push Congress to pass a comprehensive paid leave policy
- Engaged over 70 employers to promote automatic savings for emergencies through Wisconsin Saves
As your State Treasurer, fostering a more economically secure future for Wisconsinites and our state is my mission. I’m honored to serve as your State Treasurer, and please know you can reach me anytime at treasurer@wisconsin.gov.
Forward,
Improving Homeownership & Preventing Foreclosure
Owning a home is a core pillar of the American Dream, but too many Wisconsin families impacted by the pandemic are feeling unsteady when it comes to making their mortgage and property tax payments. In June, our office released our Homeownership Task Force report and launched a new statewide initiative, Take Root Wisconsin, to help Wisconsinites buy, fix, and stay in their homes. Our work won’t stop, and we’ve partnered with the Governor’s Office in the development of the WI Help for Homeowners Program, which will provide $92.7 million in critical assistance to struggling homeowners.
The program will be administered by the Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) and will partner with the Office of the State Treasurer, Wisconsin Community Action Program Network (WISCAP), member agencies, and Take Root Wisconsin to develop the program. Through close communication with stakeholders, the state plan for the program has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Treasury for funding available through the Homeowners Assistance Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Program eligibility and application details are coming soon.
"Homeownership is the backbone of the American Dream, but right now economic hardship is breaking the back of many Wisconsinites. We must deliver real help to our neighbors facing foreclosures and other home financing pitfalls," said State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski. "As we've seen in our work with the Treasurers' Homeowners Task Force, there is an urgent need for Homeownership Assistance Funds, and this program will be a difference-maker for thousands across Wisconsin who lay awake at night worrying about keeping their home."
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Our Investments Pay Off for Public School Libraries
 Our kids deserve the best when it comes to their education — that’s why I’m so proud the Common School Fund delivered a record-breaking $39 million for public school libraries this year. Updating our investment policies and strategies has paid off in ensuring our state trust funds are resilient. Even during a pandemic, we have been able to provide strong returns, which mean ample funding for books and technology for our public school libraries.
I recently had the chance to visit Emerson Elementary School in La Crosse to meet with students, teachers, faculty, and administrators to see and hear more about the impact of these funds. This dedicated library aid helps school districts build out their resources to help kids access education, whether it’s books, iPads, or hotspots. School districts have one less area they need to rely on communities to help fund because this money comes from the earnings of the Common School Fund.
Find out what your school district received from this year’s distribution.
Paid Leave Policy Crucial to Economic Security
No one should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck, their family and their work. A national paid leave program would be good for business, good for families, good for public health, and it would help boost our economy. Paid leave is essential for workers and their families — but right now, the United States is falling behind the rest of the world.
This past spring, I led 16 of my fellow state treasurers in calling on Congress to pass comprehensive paid leave. Last month, I partnered with the International Center for Corporate Responsibility and came together with over 100 investors worth over $1.6 trillion in assets to continue to push for this common-sense economic policy. What is good for Wisconsin workers is good for our economy.
Promoting Automatic Savings
October is National Financial Planning Month, and half of Wisconsinites lack a rainy day fund to cover a financial emergency. We need to do more to ensure economic security for the people of our state. By working with employers we can have a positive impact on people’s financial lives — this is the mission of the Wisconsin Saves Automatic Savings Initiative.
This effort, led by my office, the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Wisconsin Bankers Association, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, and America Saves, is part of a national pilot project designed to encourage millions of Wisconsinites to establish emergency savings accounts through the automated saving strategy of split deposit. The pilot is focused on encouraging small- and medium-sized employers to motivate their employees, particularly those in the lower-to-middle income wages, to save automatically, especially for emergencies.
To date, more than 70 employers have made the commitment to educate their employees about split deposit and encourage them to use the strategy, and we’re adding more to the list every day. We’re calling on employers to sign up at autosave.wisconsinsaves.org to receive free tools to help their employees save. For questions regarding Wisconsin Saves, please email Carolyn Pemberton at cpemberton@consumerfed.org
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Unclaimed Property: Do You Have Money Waiting?
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Do you have money waiting for you? You might!
The State Treasurer's Office works to promote the return of unclaimed money and property, from forgotten rebates, savings accounts, and estates. To search for Unclaimed Property under your name or your relatives, click here, and you can check if you have any unclaimed property here or by calling (608) 264-4594.
If you would like to stay connected with our office, please don't hesitate to:
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